CIP 35 - Testing Compressive Strength of Concrete

WHAT is the Compressive Strength of Concrete?

Concrete mixtures can be designed to provide a wide range
of mechanical and durability properties to meet the design
requirements of a structure. The compressive strength of
concrete is the most common performance measure used by
the engineer in designing buildings and other structures.
The compressive strength is measured by breaking cylin-
drical concrete specimens in a compression-testing machine.
The compressive strength is calculated from the failure load
divided by the cross-sectional area resisting the load and
reported in units of pound-force per square inch (psi) in US
Customary units or megapascals (MPa) in SI units. Con-
crete compressive strength requirements can vary from 2500
psi (17 MPa) for residential concrete to 4000 psi (28 MPa)
and higher in commercial structures. Higher strengths up to
and exceeding 10,000 psi (70 MPa) are specified for certain
applications.
WHY is Compressive Strength Determined?
Compressive strength test results are primarily used to Fractured Test Specimen at Failure
determine that the concrete mixture as delivered meets the
requirements of the specified strength, c, in the job with the strength specification is minimized. To comply with
specification. the strength requirements of a job specification both the
Strength test results from cast cylinders may be used for following acceptance criteria apply:
quality control, acceptance of concrete, or for estimating The average of 3 consecutive tests should equal or
the concrete strength in a structure for the purpose of exceed the specified strength, c
scheduling construction operations such as form removal No single strength test should fall below c by more
or for evaluating the adequacy of curing and protection than 500 psi (3.45 MPa); or by more than 0.10 c when
afforded to the structure. Cylinders tested for acceptance c is more than 5000 psi (35 MPa)
and quality control are made and cured in accordance with It is important to understand that an individual test falling
procedures described for standard-cured specimens in below c does not necessarily constitute a failure to meet
ASTM C 31 Standard Practice for Making and Curing specification requirements. When the average of strength
Concrete Test Specimens in the Field. For estimating the in- tests on a job are at the required average strength, cr, the
place concrete strength, ASTM C 31 provides procedures probability that individual strength tests will be less than
for field-cured specimens. Cylindrical specimens are tested the specified strength is about 10% and this is accounted
in accordance with ASTM C 39, Standard Test Method for for in the acceptance criteria.
Compressive Strength of Cylindrical Concrete Specimens. When strength test results indicate that the concrete
A test result is the average of at least two standard-cured delivered fails to meet the requirements of the specification,
strength specimens made from the same concrete sample it is important to recognize that the failure may be in the
and tested at the same age. In most cases strength testing, not the concrete. This is especially true if the
requirements for concrete are at an age of 28 days. fabrication, handling, curing and testing of the cylinders are
Design engineers us the specified strength c to design not conducted in accordance with standard procedures. See
structural elements. This specified strength is incorporated CIP 9, Low Concrete Cylinder Strength.
in the job contract documents. The concrete mixture is Historical strength test records are used by the concrete
designed to produce an average strength, cr, higher than producer to establish the target average strength of concrete
the specified strength such that the risk of not complying mixtures for future work.
 Most deviations from standard procedures for making,
HOW to Test the Strength of Concrete? curing and testing concrete test specimens will result in a
Cylindrical specimens for acceptance testing should be 6 lower measured strength.
x 12 inch (150 x 300 mm) size or 4 x 8 inch (100 x 200 mm) The range between companion cylinders from the same
when specified. The smaller specimens tend to be easier set and tested at the same age should be, on average,
to make and handle in the field and the laboratory. The about 2 to 3% of the average strength. If the difference
diameter of the cylinder used should be at least 3 times between two companion cylinders exceeds 8% too often,
the nominal maximum size of the coarse aggregate used or 9.5% for three companion cylinders, the testing
in the concrete. procedures at the laboratory should be evaluated and
Recording the mass of the specimen before capping rectified.
provides useful information in case of disputes. Results of tests made by different labs on the same
To provide for a uniform load distribution when testing, concrete sample should not differ by more than about
cylinders are capped generally with sulfur mortar (ASTM 13% of the average of the two test results.
C 617) or neoprene pad caps (ASTM C 1231). Sulfur caps If one or both of a set of cylinders break at strength below
should be applied at least two hours and preferably one c, evaluate the cylinders for obvious problems and hold
day before testing. Neoprene pad caps can be used to the tested cylinders for later examination. Frequently the
measure concrete strengths between 1500 and 7000 psi cause of a failed test can be readily seen in the cylinder,
(10 to 50 MPa). For higher strengths upto 12,000 psi, either immediately or by petrographic examination. If it is
neoprene pad caps are permitted to be used if they are thrown away an easy opportunity to correct the problem
qualified by companion testing with sulfur caps. may be lost. In some cases additional reserve cylinders
Durometer hardness requirements for neoprene pads vary are made and can be tested if one cylinder of a set broke
from 50 to 70 depending on the strength level tested. at a lower strength.
Pads should be replaced if there is excessive wear. A 3 or 7-day test may help detect potential problems
Cylinders should not be allowed to dry out prior to with concrete quality or testing procedures at the lab but
testing. is not a basis for rejecting concrete, with a requirement
The cylinder diameter should be measured in two for 28-day or other age strength.
locations at right angles to each other at mid-height of ASTM C 1077 requires that laboratory technicians
the specimen and averaged to calculate the cross- involved in testing concrete must be certified.
sectional area. If the two measured diameters differ by Reports of compressive strength tests provide valuable
more than 2%, the cylinder should not be tested. information to the project team for the current and future
The ends of the specimens should not depart from projects. The reports should be forwarded to the concrete
perpendicularity with the cylinder axis by more than 0.5 producer, contractor and the owners representative as
and the ends should be plane to within 0.002 inches (0.05 expeditiously as possible.
mm).
Cylinders should be centered in the compression-testing
References
1. ASTM C 31, C 39, C 617, C 1077, C 1231, Annual Book of
machine and loaded to complete failure. The loading rate ASTM Standards, Volume 04.02, ASTM, West Conshohocken,
on a hydraulic machine should be maintained in a range PA, www.astm.org
of 20 to 50 psi/s (0.15 to 0.35 MPa/s) during the latter half 2. Concrete in Practice Series, NRMCA, Silver Spring, MD,
of the loading phase. The type of break should be www.nrmca.org
recorded. A common break pattern is a conical fracture 3. In-Place Strength Evaluation - A Recommended Practice,
(see figure). NRMCA Publication 133, NRMCA RES Committee,
The concrete strength is calculated by dividing the NRMCA, Silver Spring, MD
maximum load at failure by the average cross-sectional 4. How producers can correct improper test-cylinder curing, Ward
area. C 39 has correction factors if the length-to-diameter R. Malisch, Concrete Producer Magazine, November 1997,
ratio of the cylinder is between 1.75 and 1.00, which is www.worldofconcrete.com
rare. At least two cylinders are tested at the same age and 5. NRMCA/ASCC Checklist for Concrete Pre-Construction
the average strength is reported as the test result to the Conference, NRMCA, Silver Spring, MD
nearest 10 psi (0.1 MPa) 6. Review of Variables That Influence Measured Concrete
Compressive Strength, David N. Richardson, NRMCA
The technician carrying out the test should record the
Publication 179, NRMCA, Silver Spring, MD
date they were received at the lab, the test date, specimen
7. Tips on Control Tests for Quality Concrete, PA015, Portland
identification, cylinder diameter, test age, maximum load Cement Association, Skokie, IL, www.cement.org
applied, compressive strength, type of fracture, and any
8. ACI 214, Recommended Practice for Evaluation of Strength
defects in the cylinders or caps. If measured, the mass of Tests Results of Concrete, American Concrete Institute,
the cylinders should also be noted. Farmington Hills, MI, www.concrete.org

2003