IN-SITU CONCRETE COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH ASSESSMENT BY POINT LOAD TEST

Achfas Zacoeb Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Brawijaya University Jl. Mayjen Haryono 167, Malang 65145, Indonesia E-mail: zacoeb_a@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT
The field application of point load test (PLT) for assessing a compressive strength of RC structures is described in this paper. This method is relatively new in concrete testing, and use a smaller core specimen in order to reduce and minimize the level of destruction. The structure that will be evaluated by this method is a 53 years old RC bridge deck. The value of compressive strength (fcc) is calculated from in-direct relationship with point load index (Is). In this paper, the deterioration in RC bridge deck also will be evaluated by visual inspection. Keywords: compressive strength, linier approximation, point load index, small core specimen, visual inspection.

INTRODUCTION At present the evaluation of a concrete bridge is conducted by visual inspection or structural analysis to estimate the strength and condition. In the case of bridge evaluation conducted by visual inspection, the results will be subjective depending on the inspector in charge. The qualitative level and conditions of the bridge is defined as the performance indicators that will be used in routine or periodic inspection (Hearn & Shim, 1998). A visual inspection can not provide useful information to show damage to the bridge structure which can be seen (Estes & Frangopol, 2003). For example, in the presence of cracks can provide valuable information, but the cracks will not appear until the boundary conditions or the structure is already tired (fatigue). To identify the internal fault or below the surface is very difficult to do because it is not visible by naked eye (Chang & Liu, 2003). The use of core specimen (coring) is frequently selected to determine the compressive strength of existing concrete structure. In concrete structures which

use a lot of steel bars or too tight (heavy reinforcement), to obtain core specimen would be difficult or impossible because of blocked steel. Minimum core diameter of the specimen is 100 mm or three times the maximum aggregate diameter size used in concrete structures must be extracted to conduct a strength evaluation (JIS A1107, 1993). On the structure using large aggregate, in practical might be conducted by taking core specimens with a large diameter. As consequences, the cost is also higher and usually can not making deeper. Core test specimens may prove more expensive and have to restore the borehole, but the result data can be accepted as the best evidence of the condition of concrete in the field. The smaller core specimen is often extracted as an alternative for evaluating a concrete compressive strength. Advantages of smaller core specimen is more easily drilled and cut, minimizing damage to the structure, and use a machine with a smaller capacity (Ruijie, 1996). The Point Load Test (PLT) is commonly used in the classification of rock strength index, but may also be used 1

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extensively to estimate the strength of other materials related to the parameters. This method can be an attractive alternative because it can produce similar data in lower cost, ease in making samples and the possibility to be applied in the field. To estimate the compressive strength in one direction (uniaxial compression strength) are necessary to establish the conversion factor from the index to the compressive strength (ISRM, 1985). Richardson (1989) make a point load tests on concrete cylinder specimens were cast with varying diameters, namely 50.8, 76.2 and 101.6mm. Tests with a number of specimens more possible because the speed and simplicity. The results showed that a very strong correlation between point load index (Is)
Loading direction

and standard concrete cylinder compressive strength (fcs). Zacoeb et. al. (2006), also shown a strong correlation between point load index (Is) and compressive strength of concrete core specimen standard (fcc) with 35 and 50mm diameter and using the maximum coarse aggregate size of 20mm. The results of this study use a linear approach to estimate the strength of concrete with a quality between 16 to 50MPa. BASIC THEORY The PLT is a method which is based on the failure of cylindrical specimens. Broch, et al (1972) started with a simple equation by making the Idealized failure plane of the core specimens as shown in Fig. 1.

Idealized failure plane P

Central axis direction

d=W

Cylindrical specimen diametric test

Figure 1. Specimen dimensions for a diametrally PLT on cores Fig. 1 can be used as conceptual model for derivation on Equation (1):
IS = P d2

(1)

where, IS : Point load index (MPa) P : Load (N) d : Core diameter (mm)

An argument can be made by using a wide circle of the cylinder (the shaded area) into the calculation, so that Equation (1) should be written like Equation (2).
IS = 4P pd 2

(2)

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The user of this test will find out soon that the generated data will be 30% approximately higher than the uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) with the same size core specimens. Brook (1985), emphasized the possible sources error when using PLT, and proposed an analytical method of size correction to a selected standard specimen size. It seems that Broch, et al. (19729 and also ISRM (1985) suggestions acknowledge this difference by applying a size correction and introducing the equivalent core diameter of De is given by Equation (3).
IS = P 4P = 2 De p W d

where, F : the geometric correction factor

D = e 50

0.45

(5)

(3)

where, IS P De W d

: Point load index (MPa) : Load (N) : Equivalent core diameter (mm) : Width of specimen (mm) : Diameter of specimen (mm)

Broch, et al (1972) consider the variation of IS with the size and shape of specimens with a reference from the point load index IS(50) which indicates that the index was generated from the test rock specimens with a diameter of 50 mm core. So the initial value of the IS will be converted into IS(50) with correction factor is determined based on the approach curve of the function of the diameter as shown in Equation (4). This indicates that the influence of the larger forms should be avoided. ISRM (1985) proposed a correction function which accounts for both size and shape effects by utilizing the concept of equivalent core diameter. This function of F (known as geometric correction factor) is given by Equation (5). I S ( 50 ) = FI S (4)

Size correction should be made to obtain a unique point load index for diameter core specimens of different diameter core specimen equivalent (De). For the case of the core specimen diameter larger than 50 mm, the correction measures should be taken into account by using Equation (5). Considering that Equation (4) and (5) are made for rock specimens, so it will be not suitable for use in concrete because of the homogeneity reasons. Zacoeb & Ishibashi (2009) make a new geometric correction factor, F with reference to the previous equation format as shown in Equation (6). 0.53 De F = (6) 50 To estimate the compressive strength of concrete bridge deck are evaluated by using an Equation (7) with assumptions that maximum aggregate size used was 40mm with coefficient of variation, CV between 10 to 18%. fcc = 22.3IS 22.0 (7)

EXPERIMENTAL OUTLINE The Nishionimaru Bridge in Honjo, Saga is chosen as research object for application of PLT. In 2008, the RC deck of this bridge, a cast in-situ type, is already had been demolished and replaced by using a precast type. The view and the outline of Nishionimaru Bridge are shown in Fig. 2 and Table 1, respectively.

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a. Side view

b. Simply supported

c. Front view Figure 2. View of the Nishionimaru Bridge in Honjo, Saga Table 1. Outline of the Bridge
Completion year Type of bridge span Type of bridge deck Bridge length Bridge span Bridge width Slab thickness Under clearance height Curb height Curb width : 1955 : Simply supported bridge : Cast in-situ RC slab : 4.085m : 3.631m : 4.530m : 31.7cm : 1.25m : 20cm : 15cm

The deck of Nishionimaru Bridge as shown in Fig. 2c had been divided and sawed into 4 band pieces of slabs for various investigations. For concrete compressive strength estimation by PLT is conducted by using a portable core drilled machine of Shibuya TS-1601 to extract a core specimen diameter of 50mm from upper side of band piece of bridge deck slab as shown in Fig. 3. These concrete cores will be divided into two parts in fixed of h/d ratio of 2.0 that will subjected to PLT for estimating the concrete strength condition of bridge deck from upper and bottom side.

a. Band piece of slab for PLT examination

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b. Core extraction c. Core specimen collection Figure 3. PLT specimens making RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The typical failure of concrete beam is in shear or flexural zone, so considering this issue, the core specimens were extracted in this part. The band piece of slab is marked as 60 blocks as shown in Fig. 5.7 by considering the rebar arrangement to determine the location of extraction. From one block, it should be collected one concrete core. However, after the all extraction process, a number of concrete cores that had been collected were 51 specimens and only 21 specimens that available to be divided into two parts (some of them were improper in sampling). This study observed only on the data from 21 specimens to illustrate the field application and show the condition of bridge deck from upper and bottom side.

Figure 4. Location of core extraction The criterion of specimen that mean of point load index for this bridge improper in core sampling is determined deck is determined by taking a value by that specimen have a large void due to from both sides, IS of 2.07MPa with CV imperfectly compaction during concrete value of 33.51%. Even the CV value was bridge deck construction. The improper out of the range of study from 10 to 18%, specimen with a large of void will easy to by using Equation (7), the estimation of be crushed on initial load, so it will in-situ compressive strength for this produce a low point load index of IS and bridge deck slab is 24.1MPa. For low result in estimation of in-situ additional awareness, this estimation concrete compressive strength. value should be carefully taken in the The PLT results of bridge deck for reason of the results of CV by considering upper and bottom side is shown in Table the engineering judgment to adjust the 2 with additional data of specimen. The results. JURNAL REKAYASA SIPIL / Volume 5, No.1 2011 ISSN 1978 5658 5

Table 2. PLT results of bridge deck slab

Data n Mean Max. Min. s CV n Mean Max. Min. s CV n Mean Max. Min. s CV d (mm) 21 49.50 49.83 48.82 0.24 0.48 21 49.52 49.97 48.80 0.27 0.54 42 49.51 49.97 48.80 0.25 0.51 h (mm) 102.12 103.48 100.58 0.69 0.68 102.06 103.30 100.63 0.79 0.77 102.09 103.48 100.58 0.73 0.72 Weight (g) 449.76 461.00 438.00 7.03 1.56 483.43 501.00 453.00 9.89 2.05 466.60 501.00 438.00 19.03 4.08 Density (g/cm3) 2.29 2.34 2.24 0.03 1.34 2.46 2.55 2.29 0.06 2.30 2.37 2.55 2.24 0.10 4.10 IS (MPa) 1.64 3.27 0.85 0.54 32.97 2.49 3.72 1.25 0.56 22.42 2.07 3.72 0.85 0.69 33.51 Notes

Upper side

Bottom side

Both sides

To show the difference of strength for each side of bridge deck is conducted by comparing the results of PLT. The mean of point load index, IS for the upper and bottom side is 1.64 and 2.49MPa, respectively. The value of CV for the upper and bottom side is 32.97 and 22.42%, respectively. These CV were also out of the range in this study. By using the same formula, the estimation of in-situ compressive strength for the upper and bottom side is 14.6 and 33.5MPa, respectively. This result is appropriate with the typical result of in-situ strength test that the strength of upper side is lower than the bottom side (Bungey & Millard, 1996). For assessing of internal concrete deterioration i.e. carbonation depth is conducted by spraying a core specimen or the cut section of slab with phenolphthalein solution/ The depth of carbonation is confirmed by measuring the length of unchanged color zone from surface of concrete bridge deck. From the measurement, the average of carbonation

depth for the upper and bottom side is 20 and 32 mm, respectively. CONCLUSION The point load test can be used as an alternative method to assess the strength of existing RC structures with minimum damage or small destruction in lower cost. This is possible because the core specimen size used is smaller, so the capacity of equipment used is also smaller and easier to be mobilized. Estimation is conducted by converting the value of point load index, Is into the strength of concrete core, fcc as shown in Equation (7). As an additional concern, the value of these estimates must be evaluated carefully with CV values varied reasons and consider the technical assessment to adjust the estimate for matching with the conditions on the field application. To measure the carbonation depth is possible by spraying a core specimen or the cut section of slab with phenolphthalein solution.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The author acknowledge with thanks to Prof. Koji Ishibashi and Assoc. Prof. Yukihiro Ito for their supervision and benefit advices during Doctor Course at Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saga University, Japan with financial support through the MonbukaGakusho Scholarship. REFERENCES
Broch, E. and Franklin, J.A., 1972. The Point Load Strength Test. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences & Geomechanics Abstracts, Vol. 9, pp. 669697. Brook, N. 1985. The Equivalent Core Diameter Method of Size and Shape Correction in Point Loads Testing. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences & Geomechanics Abstracts, Vol. 22, pp. 6170. Bungey, J.H., & Millard, S.G. 1996. Testing of Concrete in Structures, Third Edition, Chapman & Hall, U.K. Chang, P.C. & Liu, S.C., 2003. Recent Research in Nondestructive Evaluation of Infrastructure. Journal of Material in Civil Engineering, 15(1) pp 298-304. Estes, A.C., & Frangopol, D.M. 2003. Updating Bridge Reliability Based on Bridge

Management Systems Visual Inspection Results. Journal of Bridge Engineering, 8(1) pp 374-382. Hearn, G., & Shim, H., 1998. Integration of Bridge Management System and Nondestructive Evaluations. Journal of Infrastructure System, 7(1) pp 49-55. ISRM Commission on Testing Methods. 1985. Suggested Method for Determining Point Load Strength. International Journal of Rock Mechanics, Mineral Sciences, & Geomechanics, Abstract 22 pp 51-60. Japanese Industrial Standard. 1993. JIS A1107: Method of Sampling and Testing for Compressive Strength of Drilled Cores of Concrete. Richardson, D.N. 1989. Point-Load Test for Estimating Concrete Compressive Strength. ACI Materials Journal, 86(4) pp 409-416. Ruijie, L.K. 1996. The Diameter-Compression Test for Small Diameter Cores. Journal of Materials and Structures. 29(1) pp 56-59. Zacoeb, A., Ishibashi, K., & Ito, Y. 2006. Estimating the Compressive Strength of Drilled Concrete Cores by Point Load Testing. Proceeding of the 29th JCI Annual Meeting pp 525-530, Sendai, Japan Zacoeb, A., & Ishibashi, K.. 2009. Point Load Test Application for Estimating Compressive Strength of Concrete Structures from Small Core. Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences. 4(7) pp 46-57

JURNAL REKAYASA SIPIL / Volume 5, No.1 2011 ISSN 1978 5658