Lesson 10

Summary
The Properties Of Concrete: Tensile Tests For Concrete
For certain aspects of design it is necessary to obtain the

measure of tensile strength of concrete. Thi is particulary needed in some

of the design aspects of prestressed and partially prestressed concrete.

Two forms of test are used, the modulus of rupture test, in which the

flexural tensile strength is determined; and the direct tensile, or ‘cylinder-

splitting’ test, in which the direct tensile strength of the concrete is

measured. The modulus of rupture test is carried out on a standard small

beam of cross-section 150 x 150 x 150 mm and length 700 mm, which is

supported over a span of 600 mm (Fig. 1.5a). The flexural formula =

M/Z for elastic meterials is used to determine the extreme fibre tensile

stress at which the beam fails. The cylinder-splitting test is so-called

because a concentrated line load is applied to the cylindrical specimen

laid on edge, producing a tensile stress across the vertical diameterof the

specimen (Fig. 1,5b). the tensile stress is then given by:

fsp= 2P/𝜋. L.Dc.

Where P is the applied load, fsp is splitting length, L is the cylinder length,

and Dc the cylinder diameter. The direct tensile strength of the concrete

varies between 0.5 and 0.7 of fsp , the lower value applying toconcretes of

higher concrete strengths.