Concrete Testing

Materials of Construction
AVISH SINGH
 Introduction
 Testing is the basic method to verify that concrete
complies with the specifications.
 Strength of concrete is verified by testing samples
(cubes, cylinders, or prisms) made of fresh concrete.
 Disadvantage: Suspected concrete may have been
placed and hardened when testing take place.
 Accelerated strength tests are some times used to
offset this disadvantage.
 When samples fail in testing further investigation of
concrete may be performed using non-destructive
testing.
 Precision of Testing
 Concrete properties vary.
 Precision: general term used for the closeness of
agreement between replicate test results.
 Repeatability: the value below which the absolute difference
between two single test results obtained with the same method
on identical test material under the same conditions (i.e. same:
operator, apparatus, Lab, and short interval of time) may be
expected to lie within a specified probability (usually 95%).
 Reproducibility: the value below which the absolute difference
between two single tests results, obtained with the same
method on identical test material under different conditions
(i.e. different: operators, apparatus, Labs, time) may be
expected to lie within a specified probability (usually 95%).
 Precision Cont.
 Values of repeatability & reproducibility are
applied in a variety of ways:
 To verify the experimental technique of a lab is up
to requirements.
 To compare results of tests performed on a sample
from a batch of material with specification.
 To compare test results obtained by a supplier and
by consumer on the same batch of material.
 Analysis of Fresh Concrete
 Determination of composition of concrete at an early age can
be of benefit since knowing that actual proportioning
correspond to those specified will conclude that there is little
need for testing the strength of hardened concrete.
 Properties of interest: (W/c) ratio & cement content (mainly
responsible for ensuring that concrete is strong & durable).
 BS suggest five methods to assess cement content:
 Buoyancy method
 Chemical method
 Constant volume method
 Physical separation method
 Pressure filter method
 Water content of fresh concrete can be found as in chemical
method, or by rapid drying method (different in mass before
and after heating).
 Strength Tests
 Compressive strength
 Tensile strength:
 Uniaxial tension (direct tension: very difficult)
 Flexure test (Indirect)
 Splitting test (Indirect)
 Indirect methods yields higher strength values than
the true tensile strength under uniaxial loading for
reason already stated.
 Method of Testing Concrete In
Tension
 Different test methods yield numerically different results,
ordered as follows:
Direct tension < Splitting < flexural tension
 Reasons for that:
1. With the usual size of Lab. Specimen, the volume of concrete subjected
to tensile stress decrease in the order listed above. Statistically there is a
greater chance of a weak element and therefore of failure for larger
volume than in a small volume.
2. Both splitting and flexural test involve non-uniform stress distribution
which impede the propagation of cracks, and therefore delay the
ultimate failure. Whereas, in the direct test, the stress distribution is
uniform, so that once a crack has formed, it can propagate quickly
through the section of the specimen.
 Compressive Strength
 Determined using 150 x 300 mm (6 x 12 in) cylinders in US and
150 mm (6 in) cubes in UK.
 Smaller specimen sizes can be used based on Agg. Max. size.
 Molds (re-usable or non re-usable) must be oiled from inside to
prevent bond with concrete.
 ACCORDING TO ASTM (Cylindrical molds are used).
 For high-slump concrete: Concrete placed in cylindrical molds in
three layers, and each layer is compacted 25 times with a rod (3/8
in D).
 For low-slump concrete: Concrete placed in two layers and
compacted using internal or external vibration.
 Top surface of cylinders must be plane, smooth, and normal to its
axis.
 Plane surface can be obtained using two methods”
 Grinding
 Capping (expensive)
 Compressive Strength/ Capping
 Materials used:
 Stiff Portland cement paste on freshly-cast concrete.
 Mixture of Sulphur and granular material (e.g. milled fire
clay)…… Best capping material
 Mixture of sulphur and high strength Gypsum plaster.
 Cap should be thin (1.5 to 3 mm) and has strength
similar to that of concrete.
 Caution: Toxic fumes are produced when capping
with Sulphur mixtures.
 Compressive Strength/ Curing
 ASTM C 192-90a curing conditions for standard test
cylinders.
 Molded specimens are stored for not less than 20 and not more
than 48 hrs at temp. of 23 +- 1.7 oC so that moisture loss is
prevented.
 After removing from molds, specimens are stored at the same
temp. and under moist conditions or in a saturated lime water
until the prescribed age of testing.
 Cured cylinders give potential strength.
 Service cylinders may be used to determine the actual quality
of concrete in the structure by being subjected to the same
conditions as the structure.
 Compressive Strength Test
 ASTM C39-86 compressive strength of a
cylinder.
 Loading rate for hydraulically operated
machines is 0.15 – 0.34 MPa/ s (20 -50 psi/s)
 Deformation rate for mechanically operated
machines is 1.3 mm/min (0.05 in/min).
 Compressive strength = (max. load / cross
section area of cylinder) reported to the nearest
0.05 MPa (10 psi).
 Compressive Strength Cont.
 ACCORDING TO BS (Cube molds are used).
 Molds filled in 3 layers.
 35 strokes/ layer for 150 mm cubes, or 25 strokes for 100 mm
cubes, using a 25 mm (1 in) square steel punner.
 Alternatively vibration can be used.
 Top surface finished by a trowel.
 Cubes stored at temp. of 20 +- 5 oC and with 90% moist
condition.
 De-molding after 16 – 28 hrs and specimens stored in a curing
tank at 20 +-2 oC until test age.
 Testing ages: common 3, 7, 28 days, uncommon 1, 2, 14 days,
13, 26 weeks, and 1 year.
 Platen Restraint
 Failure of concrete under pure uniaxial compression is the
ideal mode of testing.
 But compression test imposes more complex stress system
because of lateral forces developed between the end surface of
the concrete specimen and the adjacent steel platen of the
testing machine.
 These forces are induced by the restraint of the concrete,
which attempts to expand laterally, by the several time stiffer
steel, which has a much smaller lateral expansion.
 The degree pf platen restraint on the concrete section depends
on the friction developed at the concrete platen interface, and
on the distance of the end surfaces of the concrete.
 Consequently, in addition to the imposed uniaxial compresion,
there is a lateral shearing stress, the effect of which is to
increase the apparent compressive strength of concrete.
 Typical Failure Modes/ Cubes
 Influence of platen restraint can be seen from typical failure
modes.
 Fig. 16.1 Failure modes in test cubes.
 Effect of shear is always present and decrease towards the
center of the cube, or disintegrate so as to leave undamaged
central core (Non-explosive). Testing machine is rigid.
 Less rigid machine can store more energy so that the explosive
failure is possible.
 Explosive: One face touching the platen disintegrate so as to
leave a pyramid or a cone.
 Other modes failure are regarded as unsatisfactory and indicate
a probable fault in the testing machine.
Fig. 16.1 Typical Failure Modes of test Cubes

a) Non-Explosive b) Explosive
 Typical Failure Modes Cont.
 When the ratio of height to width of the specimen
increase, the influence of shear becomes smaller.
 The central part of the specimen may fail by lateral
splitting.
 Situation in cylinders (H/W = 2).
 Possible modes of failure in Cylinders: Splitting,
Shear, and splitting & shear.
 Fig. 16.2 Failure modes in test cylinders.
 Fig. 16.3 influence of height/ diameter ratio on the
apparent strength.
 Fig. 16.2 Typical Failure Modes of Test Cylinders

a) Splitting b) Shear c) Splitting & Shear

(Cone)
Influence of Height/ Diameter Ratio
on the Apparent Strength
 As (H/D) ratio increase the apparent strength will
decrease.
 Due to larger effect of platen restraint on cubes mode
of failure
Cube strength = 1.25 Cylinder strength
 This relation depends also on strength level and
moisture condition of concrete when tested.
 Cylinder strength is probably closer to the true
uniaxial compressive strength of concrete than the
cube strength because:
 Less end restraint.
 More uniform distribution of stress over the cross section.
Fig. 16.3 Influence of Height/ Diameter Ratio
on The Apparent Strength of A cylinder
 Tensile Strength
 Tensile strength:
 Uniaxial tension (direct tension: very difficult
because the ends have to be gripped and bending
must be avoided)
 Flexure test (Indirect)
 Splitting test (Indirect)
 Indirect methods yields higher strength values
than the true tensile strength under uniaxial
loading for reason already stated.
 Flexural Test
 The theoritical max. tensile stress reached in the bottom
fiber of a test beam is known as the “Modulus of
Rupture”.
 Relevant to the design of highways and airfields.
 The value of the modulus of rupture depends on the
dimensions of the beam and on the arrangement of
loading.
 Symmetrical two-point loading (at third point of the
span) is used in UK ans US.
 This produces a constant bending moment between the
load points so that one third of the span is subjected to
the max. stress.
 Therefore it is there where cracking is likely to take
place.
 Flexural Test Cont.
 BS
 Beam 150 x 150 x 750 mm (6 x 6 x 30 in)
 Or beam 100 x 100 x 500 mm for max. agg < 25 mm.
 Curing as specified in BS.
 Beams tested on their side (as-cast position), in a
moist condition.
 Rate of increase stress in the bottom fiber (0.02 – 0.1
MPa/s (2.9 – 14.5 psi/s), lower rate for low strength
concrete and higher rate for high strength concrete.
Fig. 16.4 Arrangement for The Modulus
of Rupture Test
 Flexural Test Cont.
 ASTM C78- 84
 Similar flexural test as in BS except:
 Beam 152 x 152 x 508 mm (6 x 6 x 20 in).
 Rate of loading 0.0143 – 0.02 MPa/s (2.1 – 2.9 psi/s).
 If fracture occurs within the middle one-third of the
beam, the modulus of rupture (fbt) is given by:
Fbt = (P L) / (b d2)
P: Max total load
L: Span length between supports
d: depth of the beam
b: width of the beam
 Flexural Test Cont.
 If fracture takes place outside the middle one-third of the beam,
then:
 According to BS the test result should be discarded.
 ASTM C78-84 allows for failure outside the load points, say, at at an
average distance (a) from the nearest support.
 modulus of rupture (fbt) is given by:
Fbt = (3 P a) / (b d2)
P: Max total load
L: Span length between supports
d: depth of the beam
b: width of the beam
 If failure occurs at a section such that ((L/3) – a) > 0.05 L, then
the results should be discarded.
Flexural Strength Using One-Point
Loading
 Modulus of rupture (fbt) is given by:
Fbt = (3 P L) / (2 b d2)
P: Max total load
L: Span length between supports
d: depth of the beam
b: width of the beam
 Splitting Test
 Concrete cylinder (or less commonly cube) of the type used in
compressive strength testing.
 Placed, with its axis horizontal, between platens of a testing
machine.
 Load is increased until failure takes place by splitting in the
plane containing the vertical diameter of the specimen
 Fig. 16.5 Jigs for supporting test specimen in splitting test
 ASTM C496 -90
 Plywood are placed between specimen and platen tp preventd
local compressive stresses at the load line.
 Splitting Test Cont.
 Rate of loading:
 BS: 0.02 – 0.4 MPa/s (2.9 – 5.8 psi/s).
 ASTM: 0.011 – 0.023 MPa/s (1.7 – 3.3 psi/s).
 According to ASTM C 496 -90 the tensile
splitting strength (fst) is given by:
fst = 2P/ πLd
P: Max. load
L: length of specimen
d: diameter or width of specimen
 Fig. 16.5 Jigs for Supporting Test
Specimen in Splitting Test
a) Cylinder

a) Cube or
Prism
 Test Cores
 If strength of the standard compression test
specimen is below the specified value then
either:
 The concrete in the actual structure is unsatisfactory.
 Or specimens are not truly representative of the
concrete in the structure (test specimen not correctly
prepared, handled or cured, or testing machine could
be at fault).
 Argument is often resolved by testing cores of
hardened concrete taken from the suspect part of the
structure in order to its potential strength.
 Test Cores Cont.
 Potential Strength: the strength equivalent to the 28
days strength of the standard test specimen.
 When translating core strength into potential strength,
take into account differences in:
 Type of specimen and curing conditions.
 Age
 Degree of compaction
 Note that core taking damages the structure, so test
cores should be taken only when other, non-
destructive, methods are inadequate.
 Test Cores Cont.
 ASTM C42-90 prescribe method of determining the
compressive strength of cores.
 It is desirable to obtain cores free from reinforcement.
 Normal cores refer to the cores being representative of the
concrete.
 ACI 318-89 considers the concrete in the structure is adequate
if the average strength of three cores is equal to at least 85% of
the specified strength, and if no single core has a strength
lower than 75% of the specified value.
 ACI require testing in a dry state which leads to a higher
strength than when tested in a moist condition as (ASTM &BS
specify).
 Table 16.1 lists tests other than compressive strength, which
may be made on cores