Acceptance Criteria for the

Strength of Concrete
Mrs H.K.Munot
Asst. Professor Applied Mechanics Dept
Govt. College of Engineering, Pune

1.1 Introduction
Concrete Works are Specified by

Method and End Product.

Attractive parameter - Compressive
Strength of Concrete.
Concrete in the test specimen and
Placed & Compacted Concrete may
have different strength.

 Desirable quality of Concrete -by

Characteristic Strength .
The Characteristic Strength of concrete is
the 28 day strength, below which not
more 5% of the test results may be expected
to fall.

1.2 Compressive Strength of

Concrete :
Standard Specimen : 150 x150 x150 mm
Cube as std. Specimen Indian/British

codes. (IS: 516 )

Cylinders : 150 mm dia. 300 mm height,
American Codes (ACI)
Concrete mix proportion as per mix design.
Mould is filled with three layers. Each layer
35 strokes.

 Test specimen may be compacted using vibrator, if

it is proposed to use vibrator at site.

Place the mould containing test specimen in moist
air > 90% humidity and temperature 27 2 degree
C.
Next day, take specimen out of mould and cure it
under clean, fresh water until the testing at
required days.
Capping just prior to testing.
Testing at 7 & 28 days.

 Measure the actual dimensions & weight of test

specimen.
Load shall be applied on opposite sides of the
cube as cast.
Note the mode of failure and angle of plane on
which the specimen fails.
Make average of strength of cubes, provided the
results of individual cube does not differ by
15% of the average.

 Crushing Strength of three cubes say,

(I) 20, (II) 25, (III) 25 N/sq.mm

Av. Value = 23.33 N/sq.mm
Individual cube strength differ, I = 14.24 % <15
II & III = 7.16 % <15
Test results are valid.
Another example, (I) =18 N/sq.mm
(II) & (III) = 24 N/sq.mm
Average comp. Strength = 22 N/sq.mm
Individual cube strength differ, I = 18.18 % > 15
II & III = 9% < 15
Test results are invalid.

Failure Pattern of Concrete

Specimen

Observations on failure of cube

samples.
The failure (usual failure) should be uniform and

symmetrical . It is non explosive and the

appearance of all sides should be very much the
same.
Unusual or abnormal types of failure have
significant and detrimental effects on strength
results. Any failure which is not regular and
symmetrical or which shows tensile cracks on any
face must be reported.

Criteria for Acceptance: IS:456 :

1978 (old version)
[A]The concrete shall be deemed to comply with the strength

a)
b)

requirement if;
Every sample has a test strength not less than the
characteristic value (fck); or
The strength of one or more samples though less than the
characteristic value, is in each case not less than the
greater of:
fck-1.35 * standard deviation ( )
0.80 * fck; and the average strength of all samples is
not less than the characteristic strength plus [1.65
1.65/(number of samples)1/2]*

[B] The concrete shall be deemed not to comply with

strength requirements if;
1. The strength of any sample is less than the
greater of:
(a) fck 1.35*
(b) 0.80 * fck or
2. the average strength of all the samples is less than
[fck +(1.65 3/(number of samples)1/2]*

Criteria for Acceptance: IS:456 :

2000 (New version)
The concrete shall be deemed to comply with
the strength requirements both the following
condition are met :
1) The mean strength determined from any group
of four consecutive test results with the
appropriate limits in column 2 of table 11.
2) Any individual test result complies with the
appropriate limits in column 3 of table 11.

Table 11 ( IS : 456 : 2000) : Characteristic

Compressive strength Compliance Requirement:

1
Specifie
d Grade

2
Mean of the Group of four non overlapping
consecutive test results in N/sq.mm
*

3
Individual Test
Results

>= fck+0.825 x established std. Deviation, or

M-15

>= fck -3 in N/sq.mm

*
>= fck+3 N/sq.mm

whichever is greater

*
>= fck+0.825 x established std. Deviation, or

M-20 or
above

>= fck -4 in N/sq.mm

*
>= fck+4 N/sq.mm

whichever is greater

The application of the compliance clauses to concrete quality control is best demostrated byna
worked example. Following table shows the result of analysing 30 consecutive cube results.
Design Grade of Concrete M-35
Compliance requirment as per IS :456:1978
and, ( 2) (b) and Av.
Delta =
OR (2) (a) (b);
Strength >
(Mean Test
(1)
strength >
strength fck+(1.65Xi)
Sample
Result
Square of Strength fck -1.35x
> = 0.8 x 1.65/(n)^0.5)
No.
( Xi)
Delta
>= fck std.dev
fck
*std dev.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17

50
52
48
51
40
40
41
39
38
34
32
36
30
34
38
36
42

-10.1
-12.1
-8.1
-11.1
-0.1
-0.1
-1.1
0.9
1.9
5.9
7.9
3.9
9.9
5.9
1.9
3.9
-2.1

102.01
146.41
65.61
123.21
0.01
0.01
1.21
0.81
3.61
34.81
62.41
15.21
98.01
34.81
3.61
15.21
4.41

Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes

Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes

Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes

Concrete
requirment
not
complied
as per cl
15.1 (b) of
IS:
456:1978

Summary :
For individual test result requirements given in column 2
of table 11 (IS : 456:2000) , only a particular batch from
which the sample was taken shall be at risk.
If the concrete is deemed not to comply as per IS : 456
2000 the structural adequacy of the part affected shall be
investigated and consequential action as needed shall be
taken.
In case of doubt compressive strength tests of concrete
shall be carried out. ( Core test / Load test for flexural
member)
Minimum three cores be tested.

Contd:
Load test shall be carried out as soon as possible

after expiry of 28 days from the time of placing

concrete.
Structure should be subjected to a load to full
dead load + 1.25 times the imposed load for period
of 24 hrs and then imposed load shall be removed.
Deflection check is applied as per cl. 17.6.3 &
17.6.3.1 of IS 456:2000.