42 CODE REQUIREMENTS FOR ASSESSMENT, REPAIR, AND REHABILITATION OF EXISTING CONCRETE STRUCTURES (ACI 562-19)

CODE COMMENTARY
by taking and testing core samples or by a combination of
cores and by the use of site specific nondestructive testing.
Steel reinforcement properties shall be determined by
removal of reinforcement samples and destructive testing.

6.4.1.2 The locations and numbers of material samples R6.4.1.2 Review of available records from the original
shall be sufficient to define the material properties of the construction may be used to guide testing. Evaluation,
structural element of concern. The number of samples shall historical research, and documentation of the geometry,
be determined during evaluation. material properties, and detailing used in the construction
are invaluable and may be used to reduce the amount of
required in-place testing. The data gathered to determine
strength should include any effects of material deterioration,
such as loss of concrete strength from chemical attack and
loss of steel area due to corrosion. The impact of deteriora-
tion on the expected strength and ductility of the section also
should be considered in the evaluation.
The minimum number of tests is influenced by the data
available from the original construction, the type of structural
system, the desired accuracy, and the quality and condition
of the in-place materials. The focus of the prescribed mate-
rial testing should be on the principal structural members and
specific properties needed for analysis. The licensed design
professional should determine the appropriate number and
type of testing needed to evaluate the existing conditions.
Care should be taken in selecting the location for sampling
concrete. Core drilling should minimize damage of the
existing reinforcement and should generally occur at loca-
tions where the coring will least affect the member strength.

6.4.2 Core sampling of concrete for testing R6.4.2 Core sampling of concrete for testing

6.4.2.1 It shall be permitted to determine the compressive R6.4.2.1 NDT may be used to locate existing reinforce-
strength of sound concrete by taking cores from the members ment and to avoid damage to reinforcement during coring.
being evaluated. Steel reinforcement shall be located before Guidelines for core sampling and evaluating core strength
locating the cores to be extracted. data are given in ACI 214.4R. The presence of reinforce-
ment or other foreign material, such as conduit or wood,
may adversely affect the test strength of the concrete and
cores containing such foreign material should not be used
for strength determination. See ASTM C42/C42M Section
5.1.3 and Note 8 for additional information.

6.4.3 Concrete R6.4.3 Concrete

6.4.3.1 The cores shall be selected, removed, and tested in R6.4.3.1 The equivalent specified strength determined
accordance with ASTM C42 and ASTM C823. The equiva- using this procedure can be used in strength equations with
lent specified concrete strength fceq shall be calculated by: the strength reduction factors from Chapter 5. This approach
is specified in the Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code
  (CAN/CSA S6-14) and is based on the approach proposed
(kcV ) 2
f ceq = 0.9 f c 1 − 1.28 + 0.0015  (6.4.3.1) by Bartlett and MacGregor (1995). Equation (6.4.3.1) is
 n  a simplification of criteria given in ACI 214.4R that gives
similar results because it includes the strength correction
where f¯c is the average core strength, as modified to account factors for length-to-diameter ratio, core diameter, and
for the diameter, length to diameter ratio and moisture condi- drilling damage. The strength value obtained using this
tion of the core (following ASTM C42 procedures); V is the procedure is an estimate of the 13 percent fractile of the
coefficient of variation of the core strengths (a dimension- in-place concrete strength at a confidence interval of 90
less quantity equal to the sample standard deviation divided percent, based on the field data collected by Bartlett and

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CODE COMMENTARY
by the mean); n is the number of cores taken; and kc is the MacGregor (1995). When a different strength fractile or
coefficient of variation modification factor, as obtained from confidence interval is required, the methods presented in
Table 6.4.3.1. ACI 214.4R may be applicable.
The core samples, tested per ASTM C42/42M, are expected
Table 6.4.3.1—Concrete coefficient of variation to be moisture conditioned following the procedure in the
modification factor kc ASTM standard. The correction factors in ASTM C42/42M
n kc were developed for lightweight and normal weight concrete
with a compressive strength between 2,000 and 6,000 psi
2 2.4
(14 MPa to 42 MPa). Core samples are assumed to have
3 1.47 a maximum length-to-diameter ratio of 2.1. Bartlett and
4 1.28 MacGregor (1994a) discuss the effect of higher compressive
5 1.20 strengths on the length-to-diameter ratio.
ASTM C42/42M procedures require a minimum core
6 1.15
diameter of 3.70 in. (94 mm), smaller diameter cores are
8 1.10 likely to have more variability and a lower strength (Bartlett
10 1.08 and MacGregor 1994b).
12 1.06 When the testing requirements of ASTM C42/42M are not
met, the user should consult ACI 214.4R.
16 1.05
20 1.03
25 or more 1.02

6.4.3.2 Nondestructive strength testing to evaluate in-place R6.4.3.2 ACI 228.1R provides information on NDT
strength of concrete shall be permitted if a valid correlation methods for evaluation of concrete compressive strength
is established with core sample compressive strength test and development of statistical correlations between NDT
results and nondestructive test results. Quantifications of and core test results.
concrete compressive strength by NDT alone shall not be
permitted as a substitute for core sampling and testing.

6.4.4 Steel reinforcement R6.4.4 Steel reinforcement

6.4.4.1 If the original construction documents are not R6.4.4.1 The age of the structure may be known but the
available and if the properties of the reinforcing bars are grade of reinforcement may not be known. In this case, the
unknown, historical values provided in 6.3.2b and 6.3.2c lowest grade of reinforcement corresponding to the struc-
shall be permitted in place of testing. If the grade of material ture’s age should be used. If the date of original construc-
is unknown, the lowest grade provided in Table 6.3.2b for a tion is unknown, the lower bound value of fy equal to 33,000
given historic period shall be used. psi may be used instead of testing, provided it is conserva-
tive. In some instances, assuming higher yield strengths may
be more conservative. Where the demand on one member
is governed by the capacity of a connected member, it is
appropriate to assign higher yield strengths to the connected
member. For example, in seismic analysis at beam column
joints, the moment strength of the columns should exceed
the moment strength of the beams. When assessing this
requirement it is more conservative to assume a higher yield
strength for the beam reinforcement than for the column
reinforcement.

6.4.5 Reinforcement sampling and testing R6.4.5 Reinforcement sampling and testing

6.4.5.1 Coupon samples used for the determination of the R6.4.5.1 Often, the steel reinforcement in a structure is of
yield and tensile strength for steel reinforcement shall be a common grade and strength. Occasionally, more than one
obtained in accordance with ASTM A370. A minimum of three grade of steel is used, for example, smaller diameter (No. 3
sample coupons, taken from different segments of reinforce- and 4) stirrups and other complex bent bars were often fabri-
ment shall be obtained from the members being evaluated. cated with lower strength material than the longitudinal bars.

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