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2-6
SECTION 2 – OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
a. Press the RUN/HOLD button. The RUN indicator will illuminate.
b. The program will increase the applied force to 150 Lbf (15 x 10) clamping force in 30
seconds.
c. The program will hold the 150 Lbf clamp force for another 30 seconds.
d. The program will begin applying the chosen rate of force.
16. The sample will crush at its peak compressive strength.
17. When the sample fails, the controller will automatically terminate the program and
remain in the standby state. The message "4rat" will flash indicating a "rate of change"
alarm has occurred.
If a sample fails gradually, without a sudden fracture, the controller may not
automatically terminate the program. In this case, the operator must manually stop the
program by pressing and holding the RUN button for three seconds or longer. In the
event that the operator manually stops the program the peak value is not stored on the
display.
To stop the press manually:
a. Place the press direction control switch in the OFF position. This will stop the press
from rising.
b. Reset the controller by pressing and holding the RUN/HOLD for three seconds or
longer. This will reset and idle the controller. The RUN and HOLD indicators will
extinguish.
c. Press the AUTO/MAN to switch from automatic (AUTO) mode to manual (MAN)
mode. The MAN indicator will illuminate.
18. Reset the rate alarm on the controller by pressing PAGE and SCROLL together.
19. Place the press direction control switch in the DOWN position to lower the platen for
cleaning.
20. Place the press direction control switch in the OFF position.
21. Open the safety door, dispose of the sample.
22. Clean both the upper and lower platens.
Interpreting the Results
API Cement Compressive Strength Test
To calculate the compressive strength of a sample, the peak load at which failure occurred
must be determined. The peak value is obtained from the display or from graphical data (if a
data acquisition system is used). The peak value is divided by the sample cross-sectional
area to obtain the compressive strength using the following equation:
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