Experiment No.

14: Strength of Hardened Concrete

Introduction
For control or other purposes concrete is normally required to be tested under
uniaxial compression (cubes, cores or cylinders), indirect tension (cylinders) or
flexure (prismatic beams). In the UK the tests are required to conform to British
Standard Specifications for uniaxial compression (BS EN 12390-3 and BS 1881:
Part 116), and flexure (BS EN 12390-5 and BS 1881: Part 118).
Compression Test is the most common test conducted on hardened concrete,
because it is an easy test to perform and because most of the desirable properties of
concrete are qualitatively related to its compressive strength, The compression test
is carried out on specimens cubical or cylindrical in shape, prism is also used after
breaking in flexure test
Purpose of the Experiment:
This test is carried out by students to learn:
1. how to determine the compressive strength of concrete testing samples
under uniaxial tension according to (BS EN 12390-3 and BS 1881: Part
116) for quality control
2. To determine flexural strength according to (BS EN 12390-5 and BS 1881:
Part 118)
Material :
- Particular concrete Mix, such as 1: 2: 3
- Water-to-cement ratio : 0.5 , and 0.6
- Cement content : 3 kg
- Water content : 1.5 (group-1) , 1.8 (Group-2)
Apparatus
The main apparatus required for this test are:
1. Cubic molds of size 15 X 15 X 15 cm, if the largest nominal size of
aggregate not exceed 20 mm, then 10 cm size cubes may also be used

2. Flexural prisms with a dimension (15 X 15 X 75) mm , if the largest nominal

size of aggregate not exceed 25 mm, then use (10X10X50) cm

3. Compressive Testing Machines capable of applying the load with a constant

rate of loading up to maximum load at least 1000 kN

4. Flexural Strength testing machines capable of applying the load with a

5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

constant rate and capacity 150 kN

Vibrating machine
Standard rod for compaction
Water curing bath
Balance or scales for measuring the weights of fresh concrete
Scoop

Procedure
1. Prepare Concrete Mix
2. Coat internal parts and joints of the mold by thin layer of oil
3. Pour the concrete mix into the molds by scoop in 3 layers approximately 5
cm deep
4. Each layer should be compacted either by a standard rod 25 times stroke for
each layer or using a suitable vibrating table
5. Level Surface of concrete by trowel with the edge of the mold
6. Test specimens are place in store in moist air of at least 90 % relative
humidity and at a temperature of 20 + 5 C for 16 to 28 hours from the time
of addition of water , the storage under dump material covered with an
impervious cover is permitted.
7. The specimens are marked

8. Remove the specimens from the molds immediately submerge in clean fresh
water or saturated lime solution at a temperature of 20 + 5 until the date of
test
9. Testing of concrete by compressive testing machines for compression and by
flexural testing machine for flexural strength
10.Place concrete cubes which is at moist condition under testing machines
with the cast faces in contact with the platens of the testing machines , the
position of cubes as tested is at right angles to the position as cast.
11.The load is applied at a constant rate of stress within the range of 0.2 to o.4
MPa /sec
12.Report the crushing strength to the nearest 0.5 MPa
Testing Flexural strength of concrete
13.Place concrete prisms under flexural testing machine and test it by four-point
loading test, the beams are tested on their side in relation to the as-cast
position.
14.Apply the load with a constant rate of stress in the range between 0.02 to
0.1 MPa /Sec until failure, record failure load (Maximum Load )
15.Determine Compressive Strength from the relation-1
16.Determine Flexural strength from the relation -2
Compressive Strength f cu =

Flexural strength=

Load ( P )Span(L)
Width ( b )depth ( d )2

Results
Compressive Strength
Groups Mix
w/c
Proportion ratio

A
B

Failure Load (kN )

Area under the load

Failure load
At
compression
kN

Area under
the Load

Compressive
Strength

mm2

MPa

Flexural Strength
Groups Mix
prop.

w/c

Flexural Span(L
Load (P) )
(kN)
mm

Width
(b)
mm

Depth
(d)
mm

Flexural
Strength
N/mm2

Split cylinder test

Splitting tensile strength

f ct

2p
ld

Where:
P:max. applied load in the test
L:length of specimen
D:diameter of specimen