Troubleshooting

Low Compressive
Strength Test Results
by
Jeffrey L. Groom, P.E.
WOC Seminar
TU-139
 AIA Credits
Hanley Wood is a Registered Provider with The American
Institute of Architects Continuing Education Systems.
Credit earned on completion of this program will be reported to
CES Records for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for
non-AIA members available on request.

This program is registered with the AIA/CES for

continuing professional education. As such, it does
not include content that may be deemed or
construed to be an approval or endorsement by
the AIA of any material of construction or any
method or manner of handling, using, distributing
or dealing in any material or product.
Questions related to specific materials, methods
and services will be addressed at the conclusion of
this presentation.
Copyright Materials
This presentation is protected by US and International
copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, display and
use of the presentation without permission of the
speaker is prohibited.

© (San Juan Construction, Inc.) 2010

Learning Objectives
Define what is a low strength test result

Understand the potential causes of low strength test

results

Learn how to evaluate low strength test results

Know what to do if low strength tests are confirmed

Learn how to establish in-place strengths

Strength Test for Acceptance
Strength test – average of two cylinders made
from the same concrete (3 cyls if using 4x8’s)
Made according to ASTM C 31 – Practice for
making & curing concrete test specimens
Tested (28 days) according to ASTM C 39 –
Test method for compressive strength of cylindrical
concrete specimens
This assumes standard or laboratory cured
cylinders, not field cured.
 Should We Expect Some
Low Strength Tests?

Answer: YES

Low strength tests will occur about

once in 100 tests
due to normal variability
Concrete Acceptance
according to ACI 318 – Building Code
Requirements for Structural Concrete

ACI 318 5.6.3.3 – Strength level of an individual

class of concrete shall be considered
satisfactory if both of the following requirements
are met:
(a) Every arithmetic average of any three
consecutive strength tests equals or exceeds
f’c;
(b) No individual strength test (average of two
cylinders) falls below f’c by more than 500 psi
when f’c < 5000 psi; or by more than 0.10f’c
when f’c > 5000 psi.
Acceptable Strength Example
for f’c = 4,000 psi
Test Individual Cyl. Strength Avg. of 3
No. No. 1 No.2 Test Strength
(Avg of Cyl 1 & 2) Tests

1 4,110 4,260 4,190 __

2 3,840 4,080 3,960 __
3 4,420 4,450 4,440 4,200
4 3,670 3,820 3,750 4,050
5 4,600 4,570 4,590 4,260
Acceptable Strength Example
for f’c = 4,000 psi
Test Individual Cyl. Strength Avg. of 3
No. No. 1 No.2 Test Strength
(Avg of Cyl 1 & 2) Tests

1 4,110 4,260 4,190 __

2 3,840 4,080 3,960 __
3 4,420 4,450 4,440 4,200
4 3,670 3,820 3,750 4,050
5 4,600 4,570 4,590 4,260
Acceptable Strength Example
for f’c = 4,000 psi
Test Individual Cyl. Strength Avg. of 3
No. No. 1 No.2 Test Strength
(Avg of Cyl 1 & 2) Tests

1 4,110 4,260 4,190 __

2 3,840 4,080 3,960 __
3 4,420 4,450 4,440 4,200
4 3,670 3,820 3,750 4,050
5 4,600 4,570 4,590 4,260
Acceptable Strength Example
for f’c = 4,000 psi
Test Individual Cyl. Strength Avg. of 3
No. No. 1 No.2 Test Strength
(Avg of Cyl 1 & 2) Tests

1 4,110 4,260 4,190 __

2 3,840 4,080 3,960 __
3 4,420 4,450 4,440 4,200
4 3,670 3,820 3,750 4,050
5 4,600 4,570 4,590 4,260
 Low Strength Example
f’c = 4,000 psi
Test Individual Cyl. Strength Avg. of 3
No. No. 1 No.2 Test Strength
(Avg of Cyl 1 & 2) Tests

1 3,620 3,550 3,590 __

2 4,240 4,560 4,400 __
3 4,080 4,120 4,100 4,030
4 4,100 4200 4,150 4,220
5 3,390 3,110 3,250 3,830
Things to consider when
experiencing low compressive
strength:
Increase the cementitious materials
content (determine psi/lb of cementitious
materials)
Change mix proportions
Reductions in, or better control of fresh
physical properties
Reduction in delivery time
Improve the quality of testing
Determine strength per pound
of cementitious materials

Cement = 564 lbs/CY

Average compressive strength =
3800 psi
Strength per pound (psi/lb) =
3800/564 = 6.7 psi/lb of
cement
D ate: O ctob er 29, 2002 Slump + Air < 10
R ep ort:H5966- C T - XXXX

R ep ort of C o ncrete C om pressive S tren gth Tests

Project: Su pplier:

L ocation:G arage level 3 and 4 slabs at Lin es 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 o n Line A ; and also L in es 1 and 2 on Lin e
Cast: 7/12/2002 Ticket:329294 Batch :13:30 C o ncrete Mix:
Specim ens M ade:
TW T ru ck:306 T est Tim e:14:45 136168

P h ysical P ro p erties o f C o ncrete (AST M C 1 43, C 231, C 138, C 1 06 4)

Spe cified Strength (f'c) Slum p Air C ontent D ensity T em perature
4500 psi @ 28 days 6.5 in. 9.0 % 132.4 p cf. 85 deg . F

C o m p ressive S treng ths (AS T M C 39)

Sp ecim en Age in Diam eter Area L oad Co m p. Percen t T yp e o f
N um b er Days (inch es) (inches * 2) (lb s.) Streng th, psi o f f'c Fracture

1 7 6.00 28.27 77,500 2740

Average: 2740 69

2 28 6.00 28.27 98,000 3470

3 28 6.00 28.27 101,500 3590
Average: 3530 88

4 56 6.00 28.27 105,750 3740

Average: 3740 94
Com m ents: H eld one 28 d ay cylinder for a 56 day break.
Investigate Quality Control
Testing
Testing Factors
Field Procedures
 Sampling
 Casting of Specimens
 Initial Storage
 Transportation
 Specimen Size
 Mold Type
Laboratory Procedures
Field Procedures
Sampling
 Sample based on type of transportation
vehicle.
 Combine sub-samples to make composite
sample.
 Representative Sample (middle third of load)
Which is Better?
Influence of Slump & Air Content

1” increase in slump = 150 psi loss

1% increase in air content = 4% loss
of compressive strength
Consolidation

Insufficient
consolidation can lead
to 60% reduction in
strength.
End Planeness (75% strength reduction)
Initial Cylinder Storage

Initial Storage Requirements

ACI 301 states storage is contractors
responsibility
Winter Curing
Summer Curing

Hot cylinders cause

high early strength but
low ultimate strength.
The ultimate!
Transporting Cylinders

Transport 8 hours after final set

Protect from jarring
Prevent from freezing
Transport time must be less than 4
hours.
The wrong way! (7% strength reduction)
The right way!
Cylinder Size
Mold Material
(Reused plastic molds 22% reduction?)
Laboratory Practices

Cylinder Storage
Laboratory Practices

Cylinder Storage
Testing Techniques
Troubleshooting Low Strength
Concrete

Inspect tested cylinders (if possible)

Troubleshooting Low Strength
Concrete

Inspect tested cylinders (if possible)

Perform ACI Analysis
 Calculate running average of 3 tests
Calculate Running Average of
3 Consecutive Tests (f’c=4000)
Test Individual Cyl. Strength Avg. of 3
No. No. 1 No.2 Test Strength
(Avg of Cyl 1 & 2) Tests

1 4,100 3,900 4,000 __

2 3,840 4,080 3,960 __
3 3,980 3,850 3,920 3,960
4 3,670 3,820 3,750 3,880
5 4,000 4,200 4,100 3,920
If test results are within 500 psi of f’c
and the running average is below f’c:

Adjust plant procedures (QC)

 Following in-house batch procedures
 Moisture contents of aggregate
Adjust mix
 Calculate psi / lb of cement and adjust if
necessary
Troubleshooting Low Strength
Concrete
Inspect tested cylinders
Perform ACI Analysis
 Calculate running average of 3 tests
 Each test must be within 500 psi of f’c
Structural engineer review and acceptance
Troubleshooting Low Strength
Concrete
Inspect tested cylinders
Perform ACI Analysis
 Calculate running average of 3 tests
 Each test must be within 500 psi of f’c
Structural engineer review and acceptance
ACI 318 5.6.5.2 – If the likelihood of low-strength
concrete is confirmed and calculations indicate
that load-carrying capacity is significantly
reduced, tests of cores drilled from the area in
question…shall be permitted…….
If some results are more than
500 psi below f’c:

Engineer Review
 Accept
 Reject
 In-place testing
Low Strength Example
for 4,000 psi specified strength
Test Individual Cyl. Strength Avg. of 3
No. No. 1 No.2 Test Strength
(Avg of Cyl 1 & 2) Tests

1 3,620 3,550 3,590 __

2 4,240 4,560 4,400 __
3 4,080 4,120 4,100 4,030
4 4,100 4200 4,150 4,220
5 3,390 3,110 3,250 3,830
Methods To Determine In-place
Concrete Strength
Nondestructive Destructive
 Probe penetration
 Cores
 Ultrasonic pulse velocity
 Impact hammer
 Used only to locate
questionable concrete,
not for acceptance
Cores – Destructive Testing
Three Cores Required for
Strength Acceptance
1. Average of three cores is equal to
at least 85% of specified strength
X average ≥ 0.85
f’c
2. No single core is less than 75% of
specified strength

X i ≥ 0.75 f’c where i = 1, 3

Core Requirements

Diameter > 3.7 inches for load

bearing structures
Length:Diameter ratio 1:1 or
greater
Cap in accordance with ASTM C
617 (No unbonded caps)
0.85 Factor Accounts for …

Difference in size of cylinder vs. core

Drilling operation

Different placement & consolidation

Different curing conditions

(temperature & moisture differences)

Example:
Specified Strength = 3,000 psi
Individual core values
1. 2,950 psi
2. 3,100 psi
3. 2,500 psi Avg. = 2,850 psi

ACI 318 requirements for strength acceptance

1. 2,850 psi greater than 2,550 psi (0.85 x 3,000)

2. 2,500 psi greater than 2,250 psi (0.75 x 3,000)

YES and YES ** ACCEPTED **

Summary
Keep and maintain compressive strength
records
 Calculate running average of three
 Note fresh physical properties of failing tests
Adjust mix proportions if necessary
Adjust fresh physical properties if necessary
Ask structural engineer to accept
Summary (continued)
Check Testing Laboratory (Field)
 Obtaining sample (truck or point of placement)
 Make cylinders correctly
 Initial curing most important factor
 Contractor responsible for curing facility
 Transport Cylinders Correctly
Check Testing Laboratory (Lab)
 Centering specimen etc
 Laboratory Accreditation
Summary (continued)
Determine in-place strength
Always discuss acceptance in
preconstruction meeting.
Thank You!
This concludes the American Institute of Architects
Continuing Education Systems Program

Any Questions?
Jeffrey L. Groom, P.E.
San Juan Construction, Inc.
970-497-8224
jgroom@sanjuanconstruction.com