TESTS FOR CONCRETE STRENGTH AND DURABILITY

Dr. Shamshad Ahmad

Assistant Professor
Civil Engineering Department, KFUPM
Dhahran-31261, Saudi Arabia
 INTRODUCTION
Concrete is designed to meet the strength and
durability requirements during its service life
Tests pertaining to strength and durability of concrete
are conducted for the following purposes:
¾ To ensure that the target strength and durability
requirements are satisfied during mix proportioning
¾ To ensure that the quality compliance was achieved
during construction
¾ To examine the quality of concrete in an existing
concrete structure
 STRENGTH PARAMETERS
Strength of concrete is assessed in terms of the following
parameters:
¾ Compressive strength
¾ Tensile strength
¾ Shear strength
¾ Bond strength
¾ Impact strength
¾ Fatigue strength
Good correlations exist between compressive strength and
all other strengths and modulus of elasticity of concrete
Therefore, in practice, generally concrete is tested for
compressive strength and other parameters are calculated
by substituting the experimentally measured value of
compressive strength in the correlation charts and
equations
 DURABILITY PARAMETERS
Durability of concrete is assessed generally in terms of the
following parameters:
¾ Water absorption
¾ Water permeability
¾ Chloride permeability
¾ Chloride diffusion
Water permeability can be directly measured using flow
test, based on Darcy’s theory
However, flow test has so many complications, is time
taking, and has not yet been standardized
Thus, permeability is indirectly estimated using following
standardized tests:
¾ Initial surface absorption test (ISAT)
¾ Figg’s test
¾ DIN water penetration depth test
Out of above, DIN water penetration depth test is mostly
used as an indirect approach to assess the concrete water
permeability
LIST OF STRENGTH AND DURABILITY TESTS TO BE DISCUSSED

Laboratory tests for compressive strength:

– Cylinder test
– Cube test
– Core test
In-situ tests for compressive strength:
– Schmidt rebound hammer test
– Ultrasonic pulse velocity test
– Pull-out test
Laboratory tests for tensile strength:
– Flexural or modulus of rupture test
– Split-cylinder test
Laboratory tests for durability assessment:
– BS water absorption test
– DIN water penetration depth test
– Rapid chloride permeability test
– Chloride ion diffusion coefficient test
– Effective chloride diffusion coefficient test
CYLINDER TEST FOR COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH

Cylinder test developed by the ASTM is very popularly

used in USA for determining compressive strength of
concrete in the laboratory
The test cylinder has a diameter of 150 mm (6 in.) and
length as 300mm (12 in.) to match with l/d ratio of 2:1
The specimens are prepared and tested as per the ASTM
specifications, as follows:
¾ Molds (ASTM C470)
¾ Molding the specimens (ASTM C31)
¾ Curing (ASTM C192)
¾ Capping the cylinders (ASTM C617)
¾ Determination of compressive strength (ASTM C39)
A cylindrical specimens under compression test is
shown, as follows:
 CYLINDER TEST FOR COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH
Specimens are tested:
¾ at a constant loading rate of 0.15 to 0.34 MPa/s
(20 to 50 psi/s) for hydraulically operated
machines, or
¾ at a standard deformation rate of 1.3 mm/min
(0.05 in./min) for mechanically operated
machines
The load recorded at failure divided by the
area of cross-section of the specimen gives
the compressive strength, which is reported
to the nearest 0.05 MPa (10 psi)

Cylinder testing
 CUBE TEST FOR COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH
Cube test developed by the BS (British Standards) is very popularly used in
UK for determining compressive strength of concrete in the laboratory
The test cube has a size of 150 mm (6 in.)
BS 1881: Part 108: 1983 prescribes filling the mold in layers
All the treatments of the test cube after casting and before testing are
covered by BS 1881: Part 111: 1983
Testing of the prepared concrete cubes is covered by BS 1881: Part 116:
1983
It is to be noted that the cube is tested at right angles to the position at
cast, therefore, eliminating the need for capping or grinding because the
bearing faces are sufficiently plane

Cube testing Non-explosive Explosive failure

failure mode mode
 CUBE TEST FOR COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH
For the same concrete, the cube strength is approximately 1.25
times the cylinder strength
This is because of the more platen effect in case of the cube
(l/d ratio = 1) than in case of cylinder (l/d ratio = 2), as shown below:
CORE TEST FOR COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH
Core test is commonly used to determine the compressive strength of
concrete in the actual structure
Cylindrical cores of sufficient length and diameter are cut from the
structure using a coring machine, as shown below:

Coring from structure Core ready for testing

CORE TEST FOR COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH
The cores obtained from site are used for determining the
compressive strength of concrete in the laboratory
The methods for determining the compressive strength of cores
are prescribed by BS 1881: Part 120: 1983 and by ASTM C 42,
both are essentially similar
The diameter of the core should not be less than 3 times the
maximum size of aggregate. The length of the core should be
between 1 and 2 times the diameter
After determining the average strength (fcore) of the moist cores,
the equivalent cube strength (fcube) is obtained from the following
equation:
fcube= (D × fcore) / (1.5 + 1/λ)
where
D = 2.5 for cores drilled horizontally
= 2.3 for cores drilled vertically
λ = finished length/diameter ratio of the core
 SCHMIDT HAMMER TEST FOR COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH
This test is also known as the rebound hammer, impact hammer or
sclerometer test, and is a non-destructive method of testing the
concrete to determine its in-situ compressive strength
This test is covered by BS 1881: Part 202: 1986 and by ASTM C
805-85
The following figure shows the detail of rebound hammer

Schmidt rebound hammer

¾As shown in the figure, the plunger is pressed against the concrete surface
so as to release the mass to hit the surface and rebound back
¾After rebound the rebound number is noted. Such 10 to 12 readings are
taken over the area to be tested
SCHMIDT HAMMER TEST FOR COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH
On the basis of the average rebound number the compressive
strength of concrete is then determined using the chart shown in
the following figure:
PULL-OUT TEST FOR COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH
This method measures the force After determining the pull-out
required to pull out a previously force the compressive strength
cast-in steel rod with an of concrete may be determined
embedded enlarged end, as using the chart as shown in the
shown in the following figure: following figure:

Diagrammatic representation of
the pull-out test
 UPV TEST FOR COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH

This is a non-destructive test method to determine the compressive

strength of concrete
This test is covered by ASTM C 597-83 and BS 1881: Part 203- 1986
It consists of measuring the pulse velocity through the concrete to
be tested, using the arrangement shown in the following figure:

Direct transmission Semi-direct transmission Indirect transmission

Methods of propagating and receiving ultrasonic pulses

 UPV TEST FOR COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH

After measuring the

pulse velocity the
compressive strength
of concrete can be
determined using the
chart shown in the
figure:
 MOR TEST FOR TENSILE STRENGTH

The MOR test is covered by ASTM C 78

In the MOR test, a concrete beam with span length (L) equal to three
times the beam depth (d) is subjected to third-point loading as shown
below:

¾Failure load P is noted and the tensile strength, called MOR, is then calculated
using length (L), breadth (b) and depth (d) of the test beam, as follows:
PL
MOR =
bd 2
 MOR TEST FOR TENSILE STRENGTH
MOR of concrete is related to its compressive strength, as shown
below:

Relationship between compressive strength and MOR

 SPLIT-CYLINDER TEST FOR TENSILE STRENGTH
The split-cylinder test is covered by ASTM C 496
In this test, a concrete cylinder specimen is subjected to a load to cause
splitting of the specimen as shown below:

Split-cylinder test
¾ Failure load P is noted and the tensile strength, fst, is then calculated
using length (L) and diameter (d) of the test cylinder, as follows:
2P
f st =
π Ld
¾For normal-weight concrete, split-tensile strength, fst, and compressive
strength, f c' , are empirically related, as follows:
f st = 6.7 f c' (psi)
 CORRELATIONS BETWEEN COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH
AND BOND, IMPACT, AND SHEAR STRENGTHS
In general, bond strength is
approximately proportional to
the compressive strength of
concrete up to about 20 MPa
(3000 psi)
For higher compressive
strengths of concrete, the
increase in bond strength
becomes progressively smaller
and eventually negligible, as
shown in Figure

‰Impact strength varies from 50 to 75% of the compressive cube

strength

‰Shear strength of concrete is taken approximately equal to 20% its

compressive strength
 BS WATER ABSORPTION TEST
BS 1991: Part 122 specifies an absorption test on 75 mm diameter
cores taken from a structure or precast component at the
specified minimum test age of 28-32 days
The specimen height should be the full thickness, where this is
between 32 and 150 mm, or 75 mm where the thickness of the
structure is greater than 150 mm
The test procedure is as follows:
¾ The specimen is dried in an oven at 105°C for 72 h.
 BS WATER ABSORPTION TEST

¾ The specimen is cooled in a dry airtight vessel for 24 h.

¾ The specimen is weighed and then immediately immersed in a tank
containing water at 20°C with the longitudinal axis of the core
horizontal, and with 25 mm depth of water over the specimen.

¾ The specimen is left under immersion for 30 min, then removed,

shaken, and surface dried, then reweighed.
 BS WATER ABSORPTION TEST

¾ The water absorption is calculated as the increased in mass

resulting from immersion expressed as a percentage of the dry
mass.
¾ For cores of lengths different from 75 mm, a correction factor,
(graph given in BS 1881), is applied to standardize on sample
volume.
¾ Each test should comprise a batch of three specimens and these
should be cored from the structure at an age of 24 to 28 days to
enable the absorption test to be carried out after 28 to 32 days.
¾ General experience has shown that typical values for water
absorption of concretes, as established by the BS 1881, 30
minute immersion procedure are:
Low absorption concrete < 3%
Average absorption concrete 3-5%
High absorption concrete > 5%
 DIN WATER PENETRATION DEPTH TEST
‰ In DIN 1048 test, a 6”×6” cubical specimen is placed within the testing
machine using watertight rubber seal, as shown below:
‰ Water pressure of 100 KPa
(1 bar) is applied for 48 hrs.
‰ Then pressure is increased
to 300 KPa (3 bar) for the
next 24 hrs.
‰ Then pressure is increased
to 700 KPa (7 bar) for the
next 24 hrs.
‰ After that the sample is
removed, surface is wiped,
the sample is split in half
and the depth of water
penetration is measured.
‰ The depth of penetration is
an indication of permeability.
 DIN WATER PENETRATION DEPTH TEST

Photograph showing concrete specimens Photograph showing specimen split for

subjected to DIN water penetration test measuring water penetration depth
 DIN WATER PENETRATION DEPTH TEST
Criteria for assessing water permeability using DIN water penetration depth
DIN Water Penetration Depth (mm) Degree of Water Permeability

Less than 30 Low

30 to 60 Moderate

More than 60 High

Measured water penetration depth may be converted into the

coefficient of permeability if the porosity of concrete is known:

e2v
K=
2ht
Where:
K = coefficient of permeability (m/s)
e = water penetration depth (m)
h = hydraulic head applied during penetration test (m)
t = time for which pressure was applied (s)
v = porosity of concrete (in fraction)
 RAPID CHLORIDE PERMEABILITY TEST
Chloride permeability of concrete is determined indirectly by measuring the
electrical conductance (in Coulombs or Amp-sec) of concrete subjected to
accelerated chloride diffusion under applied electric field
The test is known as “rapid chloride permeability test” on concrete,
conducted in accordance with ASTM C 1202 or AASHTO T-277
For this test, a 75 mm diameter and 50 mm thick cylindrical disk specimen is
used
The curved surface of the disk is epoxy-coated to avoid evaporation of
moisture during testing.
The disk specimen is saturated with water under vacuum and kept saturated
for about 24 hours.
The specimen is clamped between the two halves of a chloride permeability
cell, as shown below:

NaOH Reservoir NaCl Reservoir

 RAPID CHLORIDE PERMEABILITY TEST

Using the set up shown below, the charges are passed through the specimen for a
period of 6 hours and the resulting current is recorded with time using a data logger .

Set-up for rapid chloride permeability of concrete

 RAPID CHLORIDE PERMEABILITY TEST
Current versus time data are plotted, as shown below:

The area under the curve gives the total charge passed in Coulombs
(Ampere-seconds).
Higher values of the total charge passed indicate increased diffusion of
chloride ions
 RAPID CHLORIDE PERMEABILITY TEST
Assessment of Chloride Permeability based on Charge Passed
 CHLORIDE ION DIFFUSION COEFFICIENT TEST
The chloride ion diffusion coefficient (DCl-) is generally determined
by measuring the time for the concentration of Cl- ions at a given
point to reach a particular value.
The test for determination of DCl- is conducted on a thin slice of the
mortar or concrete. The specimen is placed to form a barrier
between two sections of a tank, as shown below:

¾One side of the tank is filled

with a solution of an
appropriate salt
¾The rate of diffusion is
monitored by analyzing at
regular intervals the water
on the other side of the tank
for the chloride ion
concentration.

Set-up for chloride ion diffusion test

 CHLORIDE ION DIFFUSION COEFFICIENT TEST

Plot of typical results obtained from measurement of chloride ion

diffusion is shown below:

¾The value of DCl- can be

calculated from the plot
shown

Plot of typical results obtained from chloride ion diffusion test

High permeability concrete: DCl- > 5×10-12 m2/s

Average permeability concrete: DCl- = (1 to 5)×10-12 m2/s
Low permeability concrete: DCl- < 1×10-12 m2/s
 EFFECTIVE CHLORIDE DIFFUSION COEFFICIENT TEST

The specimens after casting are cured for at least 28 days and
then allowed to dry for 7 days.
The dried specimens are coated with an epoxy resin on the curved
surface and the bottom surface so that the chloride ions would
penetrate the concrete specimen uniaxially.
The coated specimens are immersed in a 4% or 5% sodium chloride
solution for 6 months.
After 6 months of exposure to chloride ions, the specimens are
cleaned and dried to remove the surface moisture and thin slices of
concrete are obtained at 5, 15, 35, 50 and 75 mm by dry cutting.
The slices are crushed and ground to a fine powder passing
through ASTM No. 100 sieve.
The water-soluble free chloride ion concentrations of the powdered
samples are determined in accordance with AASHTO T-260 [1997].
 EFFECTIVE CHLORIDE DIFFUSION COEFFICIENT TEST

The free chloride ion concentrations are plotted against the concrete
depth for each specimen, as typically shown below:

Values of De and cs may

be determined by best
fitting the cx versus x data
(obtained from the
chloride profile) into the
following equation for cx
⎡ x ⎤
c x = c s ⎢1 − erf ⎥
⎢⎣ 2 De t ⎥⎦

Chloride profile for OPC concrete with cement content of 400 kg/m3
Thank you for your kind attention

Any question?