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U N I V E R S I T Y O F L I V E R P O O L : D E P A R T M E N T O F C I V I LE N G I N E E R I N G
material in the test specimenis effectively reduced in direction of cutting and testing relative to that of
comparison with alargerspecimen,and this may casting. Attention was, therefore, concentrated upon
influence the internal failure characteristics. examining the effectsof concrete strength and aggre-
Since theyare interrelated,differentiation between gate size upon theserelationships andthe subsequent
individualeffects will be difficult. For example, correlations between core strength and cube strength
increased strength attributed to small specimen size for the ‘small’ cores.
may be offset by a reduction due to greater cutting The differencesbetweenPotentialStrengthand
effects. Cutting damage may furthermore be influ- Actual Strength of concrete are well documented(*),
enced by aggregatecharacteristics,andeach may and have not been considered in this investigation,
separately influence the mode of failure and the var- since the relationship is not directly influenced by the
iability of results. size of test specimen.
Kesler(’) has shown thatconcretestrength is a
further factorwhich may influence the behaviour of a Details of test programme
core, and it is possible that this also may affect the A total of 23 mixes was used in the investigation,
relative behaviour of ‘small’ and ‘large’ cores. The covering a rangeof measured cube strengths between
complexity of these problems contributedTo the deci- 10 and 82 N/mm*, and these are listed in Table 1.
sion to confine the investigation to a single ‘small’ Portland cementswere generally used, although
core size, and 44 mm diameter was chosen as being three mixes were of high alumina cement concrete,
typical of ‘small’ cores used in practice. and coarse aggregates were 10 mm or 20 mm max-
Advantage was taken of laboratory conditions to imum size irregular gravels. In all cases, 100 X 100 x
standardize, as far as possible, many of the variables 500 mm unreinforced prisms were cast and cured in
which are known to affect the measured strength of a the laboratory, together with at least four 100 mm
core (i.e. compaction, reinforcement, drilling techni- control cubes. Nominal 44 mm diameter cores were
que, capping, moisture condition and testing techni- cut from the prisms by using a diamond-tipped core-
que). Thetwo variableswhich willhave a majoreffect cutter, andwere trimmed and capped with a thickness
upon the measured strength of a ‘large’ core are the of up to2 mm of high alumina cement mortar togive
heighddiameter ratio(hld) and the orientationof the over-all heighvdiameter ratios between 1.0 and 2.0.
T A B L E 1: Summary of testspecimens.
Measured Maximum Total number
cube aggregate of cores
Mix strength size Type of h id
No. cement of cores Orientation*
(N/mm2) (mm) V
1 82 10 HA 1 2, 2.0 6
2 82 20 HA 1.2, 1.7, 2.0 6
3 75 20 HA 1.2, 1.7, 2.0 24
4 23 20 OP 1-2, 1.6,2.0 24
5 41 20 OP 1-2, 1-6, 2.0 24
6 75 20 OP 1.2, 1.6, 2.0 24
7 34 20 RHP 1.4, 1.8, 2 0 24
8 34 20 RHP 1.2, 2-0 8
9 21 20 RHP 1.2, 2.0 16
10 68 20 RHP 1.2, 2.0 16
11 33 10 RHP 1.5, 1.8, 2.0 20
12 33 10 RHP 1 2, 2.0 8
13 23 10 RHP 1 5 , 1.8, 2.0 24
14 23 10 RHP 1.2, 2.0 8
15 10 10 RHP 1-2, 1-8, 2.0 16
16 45 10 RHP 2.0 -
17 36 10 RHP 2.0 -
18 31 10 RHP 2.0 -
19 18 10 RHP 2.0 -
20 43 20 RHP 2.0 -
21 33 20 RHP 2.0 -
22 36 20 RHP 2.0 -
23 24 20 RHP 2.0 -
~
Totals 248
*See Figure 1
92
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Determining concrete strength by using small-diameter cores
vertically
drllled The cores weretested in compression immediately
after removal from water, with loading applied at a
directlon rate of 15 N/mmz min, as recommendedby BS 1881,
of casting
Part 4(l).
Those with an anticipated measured strengthof 40
N/mm2 or less were tested in a 6.6 tonne manually
operated Denisontesting machine,whilst a 100 tonne
capacity Avery machine was used for strongerspeci-
mens. The failureof each core was examined visually
to ensure that there was no significant cracking or
damage to the caps and that the failure mode was
horlzontally drilled symmetrical.Caseswherediagonal shearfailure
occurred were accepted for long cores, as recom-
mended by the Concrete Society Report(z), butwere
Figure I : Drilling orientation in relation to prism specimen. rejected if hld was less than 1.4.
IO
Y
m B S 1881
I
l-
W
z
W
a
=; 09
W
a
0
V
n
W
a K = 0.54 + 0.23(h/d)
3
m
5 0 8
I 0 HAC, 2 0 mm gravel
U
0
V HAC, 10 mm gravel
0
l- A Portlandcement. 20 mmgravel
4
IT
0 0 Portland cement, 10 mm gravel
l 1 I I
1.8 1 1.6 1.2 1.4 2
HElGHTiDlAMETER RATl0,hid
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Magazine of Concrete Research : Vol. 31, No. 107 :June 1979
Maximum aggregate size is also indicated in Figure Whilst this can be due to acombination of factor^'^),
2, and separateanalyses give K = 0.57 + 0.215 (hld) since similar casting and testing procedures used were
+
for 20 mm, and K = 0.50 0.25 (hld) for 10 mm it is likely to reflect differing variability of the con-
results. The scatter must limit the reliability of these crete within individual batches. Thusthe ratio (coef-
expressions; however, the corresponding correction ficient of variation of cores)/(coefficient of variation
factors to a standard hld = 2.0 are summarized in of cubes) is more likely to represent differences in
Table 2 and compared with the recommendations of behaviour between the various typesof concrete due
references 1 and 2. Although the strength of 10 mm to core testing alone.
aggregate coresis apparently more influenced by var- In Table 4, average coefficients of variation are
iations of hld than is that of the 20 mm aggregate shown according to cement type, aggregate size and
specimens, it will be seen that the scatter on observed core orientation. Examinationof the corekube ratio
values is so great thatdiscrepancies in corrected core suggests that 20 mm aggregate cores exhibit a greater
strength dueto adopting an average correction factor variability due to cutting and testing than 10 mm
which is independent of aggregate size will be rela- aggregate cores.The scatter of results is such that this
tively unimportant. is notprovedconclusively:nevertheless,further
weight is given to this view by the appreciable differ-
V A R I A B I L I T Y O F TEST R E S U L T S ences in standard deviations of this ratio between 10
Coefficients of variation for each set of 'identical' mm and 20 mm aggregates.Orientationseemsto
vertically drilled cores of Portland cement concrete have littleinfluenceuponthevariability of core
are summarized in Table 3. It will be observed that results. However, it can be seen from Table 4 that
there is no significant change in variabilityof results cores from the high alumina cement mixes appear to
between the two extreme values of hld, irrespective bemore variable thanthosefrom the Portland
of aggregate size. Resultsfor 10 mm aggregate cores cement mixes.
show a slightly greater scatter than 20 mm results.
However, this may be misleading in view of the dif-
ferencesobtainedforcoefficient of variation of T A B L E 3: Effectof (hld) uponcoefficientof
measured cube strength between mixes (Table 4). variation of measured core strength (Portland
cement concrete).
Average coefficient of variation
T A B L E 2: (hid) correctionfactors. ('vertical' cores)
Aggregate
1
95 %
hld =
over-a" confidence
mean
10 mm gravel 1.2 11.4-1.8 12.0 limits
'Small' cores
20 mm gravel
20 mm gravel
(7 mixes)
1 1 7.8 18.1
7.3 I 7.5 2 4.7
'Large' cores
Concrete Society'2'
BS 1881, Part 4") I 0.80
0.92 I 1.0
1.0
10 mm gravel
(5 mixes)
1 I
I
7-3
I
7-1 19.81 8.8 -t 6.0
PORTLAND CEMENT
V 7 7.5 5.5 1.8 1.3
20 mm gravel
H 5 5.8 3.4 1.7 1.2
10 mm gravel V 5 8.8 7.0 1.3 0.6
H 6 9.5 6.4 1.3 0.5
*See Figure 1.
94
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Determining concrete strength by using small-diameter cores
60
60 l
A 10 mm gravel - 0 20 mm gravel
k 50 2 50 -- A IO mm gravel /
E E
2 / 2
I / I
I I
t- 40 t- 40
c7 0
z z
W W
U U
t- cube = 1 14 x core t-
m (0
W 30
\\
W 30
U U
0 8A 0
V V
D n
p 20
A p 20
V V \ cube = 1.22x core
W
U
U
W
U
U
A??
0 0
V 10 0 10
/
/
/
J
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 0 10 20 30 40 50 60
M E A S U R E D CUBE STRENGTH-N/rnrnZ M E A S U R E D C U B E STRENGTH-N/mrn2
Figure 3: Relationship between corrected core strength (single Figure 4: Relationship between corrected core strength (mean of
cores, hld = 20) and measured cube strength (Portland cement 4, hid = 2.0) and measured cube strength (Portland cement
concrete) for ‘horizontal‘ cores. concrete) for ‘horizontal’ cores.
70
-
60
-- 0 2 0 mm gravel
A 10 mm gravel 80 0
E
Q
E
0
I
40 Q
r
t-
a
z
Kc 50
m
W . cube = 1.25 X core
U
g 30
n
W
c
U
W
U 20
U
0
V
10
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
MEASURED CUBE STRENGTH-NImm’
Figure 5: Relationship between corrected core strength (mean of 4, hld = 2.0) and
measured cube strength (Portland cement concrete) for ‘vertical’ cores.
95
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Magazine of Concrete Research : Vol. 31, No. 107 : June 1979
O' c- 1
60
- /l A Portlandcement (20mm aggregate)
0 highaluminacement i
E
E
2 50 .
I
I
l-
U
z
E 40 cube = 1.28 x core
F
m
W
U
95% limits for
30 . Portland cement cores
0
W
F
V
W
U 20
U
0
0
io
l I I l l I I I l
0 io 20 30 40 50 60 70 EO 90
MEASURED CUBE STRENGTH-N/mm2
Figure 6: Relationship between corrected core strength (mean of 12, hld = 2.0) and
measured cube strength for 'vertical' cores.
shown for each size. These cubelcore strength corre- that the core strengths are significantly lower than
lations are summarized in Table 5 , together with the would be expected forsimilar Portland cement cores.
corresponding 95% confidence limits on calculated
cubestrengths. To permitrealisticcomparison of General observations, and comparison of
results, mixes with a very high cube strength (<50 results with existing recommendations
N/mm2) have not been included in calculating these The resultsclearlydemonstrate that for 'small'
relationships. It was found, nevertheless, that for the cores (hld)effects are considerably greater than those
vertically drilled 20 mm aggregate cores alone, the suggested by BS 1881"). Comparison of the experi-
conversion factor is only marginally changed from mental results with the more recent Concrete Society
1.25 to 1.28 with 95% limits of 2 2 2 % when the recommendations(Table 2) suggests that 'small'
higher strengths are included. Figure 6 is based on cores may be marginally more sensitive tohld varia-
means of 12 'vertical' 20 mm aggregate cores, and tions than large cores, but there is no evidence that
shows thecorresponding 95% confidencelimits the over-all variability of core results is affected by
which are reduced to t 12% in that case. The results the hld ratio used.
for H A C mixes are also plottedin Figure 6 and show The averagecoefficient of variation for core results
96
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Determining concrete strength by using small-diameter cores
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Magazine of Concrete Research : Vol. 31, No. 107 :June 1979
effect upon measured strengthwhich is similar to that 2. CONCRETE SOCIEIY, THE. Concretecore testing for strength.
London, 1976. pp. 44. Technical Report No. 11. Publication
anticipated for larger cores. 51.071.
(4) The measured strength of cores with 10 mm max- 3. NEVILLE, A. M . The influence of size of concrete test cubes
imum aggregate size is approximately 10% greater on mean strength and standard deviation. Magazine of Con-
relative to the actual cube strength than would be crete Research. Vol. 8, No. 23. August 1956. pp. 101-110.
expected for coresof 100 or 150 mm diameter. This 4. HENZEL, J. and FREITAG, W. Zur Ermittlung der Betondruck-
festigkeit im Bauwerk mit Hilfe von Bohrkemen kleineren
was not found to apply with 20 mm aggregates for Durchmessers. (The determination of the compressive
which ‘vertically’ drilled cores were approximately strength of concrete in a structure with the aid of test cores
10% weaker than anticipated. of small diameter.) Beton: Herstellung, Verwendung. Vol. 19,
(5) The strengths of cores from ‘uncoverted’ HAC No. 4. April 1969. pp. 151-155.
5. AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS. Standard
concrete may be lower in relation to cubes, and more
method of obtaining and testing drilled cores and sawed beams
variable, than would be expected forsimilar Portland of concrete. Philadelphia, 1968. Part 14. pp. 32-36. C42-68.
cement cores. 6. DEUTSCHEN NORMENAUSSCHUSS. Priifierfahren f i r Beton:
(6) The sensitivity of ‘small’ cores tomany factorsof Bestimmung der Druckfestigkeit von Festbeton fertiger Bau-
mix properties and testing procedure leads to a high werke und Bauglieder. (Testing methods for concrete: com-
variability of strength predictions, and methodsused pressive strength of concrete in structures and members.)
Berlin. p. 1. DIN 1048: Part 2: 1972.
for estimating cube strengths from‘large’ cores can- 7. STANDARDS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA. Method for securing
not be relied upon under these circumstances. and testing cores from hardened concrete forcompressive
(7) Prediction of actual cubestrength should account strength or indirect tensile strength. Sydney. pp. 12. AS 1012.
for both orientation of cores and aggregate size, in Part 14:1973.
8. KESLER, c. E. Effect of length to diameter ratio on compressive
accordance with Table 5. In this event, for a set of n
strength - an ASTh4 co-operative investigation. Proceedings
results the 95% confidence limits are unlikely to be of the American Society for Testing and materials. Vol. 59.
betterthan k ( 3 6 / d n ) % underlaboratory condi- 1959. pp. 12161229.
tions. The number of additional influences associated 9. WARREN, P. A . Assessing the validity of the cube test result.
with site conditions suggests that the use of ‘small’ Egham, RMC Technical Services, 1976. pp. 14. RMC
cores toassess the equivalent cube strengthof in situ Technical Report No. 78.
10. TEYCHENNE, D. c . Long-term research into the characteristics
concrete may be of doubtful value. of high alumina cement concrete. Magazine of Concrete
Research. Vol. 27, No. 91. June 1975. pp. 7%102.
REFERENCES
1. BRITISH STANDARDS INSTITUTION. Methods of testing concrete Contributions discussing the abovepuper should be in the hands of
for strength. London. pp. 25. BS 1881:Part 4:1970. the Editor not later than 31 December 1979.
98
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