Concrete Strength Acceptance Criteria IRC:15-2011

For concrete roads, flexural strength of concrete is the design criteria. For all
major projects, flexural strength of the mix shall be determine by third point
loading of flexural beams size 150 mm x 150 mm x 700 mm as per IS: 516.
Determination of flexural strength by correlating with cube strength
(compressive strength) shall not be allowed for major projects, as the
correlation is not well established.

However in small projects where facilities for testing beams with three point
loading are not available, in a such case, the mix design may be carried out
by using compressive strength values and there after flexural strength will be
determined as per correlation between flexural strength with compressive
strength given below

fcr = 0.7 x √fck

where fcr is the flexural strength in N/mm 2 and fck is the characteristic
compressive strength in N/mm2 as per IS: 456-2000.

QUALITY CONTROL
Samples from fresh concrete shall be taken as per IS: 1199 and cube and
beam specimens shall be made, cured and tested at 28 days as per IS: 516.
The minimum frequency of sampling of concrete shall be one sample per 200
cu.m of concrete. Each sample shall comprise of 3 test specimens of beams
and cubes. These shall be tested for 28 days strength. However, in case of
major projects test pertaining to beams shall govern. For each day’s work,
number of specimens shall not be less than six beams taken out of 2 different
batches of concrete. Additional six cubes may also be got cast for reference,
record and co-relation, if desired by the Engineer.

The test results of the sample shall be the average of the strength of three
specimens, comprising the sample. The individual variations of any specimen
(beam/cube/core) shall not be more than +15 percent of the average (of the
three specimen comprising the sample). In case, if it is more than the sample
will be rejected.
Flexural strength shall be used for quality control and for acceptance
purposes. The flexural strength be determined by modulus of rupture under
third point loading as per IS: 516.

A quality control chart indicating the strength values of individual specimens

shall be maintained for continuous quality assurance. Where the
requirements are not met with or where the quality of the concrete or its
compaction is suspect, the actual strength of the concrete in the slab shall be
ascertained by carrying out tests on cores cut at the rate of 2 cores for every
150 cu.m. of concrete. The diameter of cores shall not be less than 150 mm.

If, however, the tests on cores also confirm that the concrete is not satisfying
the strength requirements, then the concrete corresponding to the area from
which the cores were cut should be replaced, i.e., at least over an area
extending between two transverse joints where the defects could be isolated
or over larger area, if necessary, as assessed by additional cores and their test
results.

With regard to age factor, it is recommended that if the cores are cut within
90 days of casting the slab, no allowance for age factor is required, the
strength of the core may be considered as at 28 days. However, if the cores
are cut after 90 days, an age factor of 115 percent as compared to 28 days
characteristic compressive strength of core may be applied.

Acceptance Criteria of Strength

Flexural strength
The concrete will be said to comply with the specified flexural strength, when
the following conditions are met with,

i) The mean strength determined from any group- of 4 consecutive samples

(each sample containing 3 beam specimen i.e. 4×3 = 12 beam specimens) at
28 days should exceed the specified characteristic flexural strength by atleast
0.3 MPa.
ii) The strength of any specimen is not less than the specified characteristic
flexural strength minus 0.3 MPa

Compressive strength*
When both the following conditions are met, the concrete complies with the
specified compressive strength;
i) The mean strength determined from any group of 4 consecutive samples
(4×3 = 12 cubes specimens) at 28 days should exceed the specified
characteristic compressive strength by 3 MPa (N/mm2).
ii) The strength of any sample is not less than the specified characteristic
compressive strength minus 3 MPa (N/mm2).
*Acceptable for smaller projects, where design is based on compressive
strength.

At compressive strength ii) in place of: The – strength of any sample should be
The – strength of any specimen.(IS:456-2000 mentioned individual Test
Results)

At flexural strength at 11) is also mentioned any specimen

The acceptance criteria is best illustrated by the following example:

Characteristic flexural strength (Required in the field at 28 days age)

= 4.5 N/mm2
This correspond to characteristic compressive strength using relationship
given else where     = 41.4 N/mm2
Laboratory design mean flexural strength of good quality control. The
concrete is to be used on urban streets.

= 4.5 + 1.65 x 0.4 = 5.2 N/mm2

at 28 days age

and laboratory design mean target compressive strength:

41.4 + 1.65 x 5 = 49.7 N/mm2

at 28 days age

with the given correlation this gives flexural strength of

0.7 x √49.7= 4.93 N/mm2

whereas the required target flexural strength is 5.2 N/mm 2. Therefore, the
design target compressive strength shall be
5.2 = 0.7 x √x
√x = 5.2/0.7
√x=(7.429)2
= 55 N/mm2 in place of 49.7 N/mm2
SITE ACCEPTANCE

(a) Characteristic flexural strength = 4.5 N/mm 2

(b) Characteristic compressive strength = 41.4 N/mm2
Beams size is 150 mm x 150 mm x 700 mm and cubes size 150 mm x 150
mm x 150 mm. All tested at 28 days age.

Table 1 – In a small road project in 2 days 90 cu.m of concrete was layed

Acceptance exceed
Cube average 41.4+3 =
Average
test 0.85 fav 1.15 fav 44.4 N/mm2
Batch fav
results 2 N/mm
2
N/mm2 Individual 41.4-3 =
N/mm
N/mm2 38.4
N/mm2 Minimum
36.5,
Day one Rejected 36.5 is
39.0, 38.7 32.9 44.5
Batch I less than 38.4
40.7
41.5,
Rejected 37.3 is
Batch II 37.3, 39.1 33.2 45.0
less than 38.4
38.4
Day two 45.5,
Batch 40.2, 41.7 35.5 48.0
III 39.5
46.7,
Batch
40.9, 45.4 38.6 52.2
IV
48.7
Concrete rejected
as average could
Average – 41.2 – –
also not exceed
44.4 N/mm2
Remarks: As concrete is rejected the option is cores should be taken out and
tested for strength and compliance.
Table 2 – In a major road project in 6 days 2300 cu.m
of concrete was layed
Acceptance exceed
Beam average 4.5+0.3 =
Average 0.85
Batch test 1.15 fav 4.8 N/mm2
fav fav
results 2 N/mm
2
Individual 4.5- 0.3
N/mm 2
/mm
N/mm 2
= 4.2
N/mm2 Minimum
Day 1 3.32, Rejected due to
Batch 5.79, 4.17 3.55 4.80 variation in
I 3.41 strength
Batch 5.53, 5.30 4.50 6.10
 4.95,
II
5.41
Day 2 5.21,
Batch 4.32, 4.58 3.89 5.27
III 4.20
5.55,
Batch
5.00, 5.17 4.40 5.95
IV
4.97
Day 3
Batch 5.20,
4.72, 4.84 4.11 5.57
V 4.59

4.62,
Batch
5.31, 4.93 4.19 5.67
VI
4.87
Day 4 4.95,
Batch 5.71, 5.44 4.62 6.26
VII 5.66
4.51,
Batch
4.82, 4.70 4.00 5.41
VIII
4.77
Day 5 5.78,
Batch 5.91, 5.67 4.82 6.52
IX 5.33
4.21,
Batch
4.71, 4.63 3.94 5.32
X
4.96
Day 6 5.01,
Batch 4.92, 4.83 4.11 5.55
XI 4.57
5.43,
Batch
5.98, 5.87 4.99 6.75
XII
6.21
Remarks:
1) The concrete of batch I is rejected by site engineer due to variation in
strength. The strength values are out of range +15 percent of average value.
By taking into consideration the strength of batch II and also other batches, it
is concluded that this may be due to care was not taken in taking sample and
in casting of beams. By visual inspection and rebound hammer readings,
batch I portion of concrete found to be identical with batch II portion of
concrete. Accordingly the concrete was accepted without doing any remedial
measures.
2) All the beams strength of batch II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI and XII
are within +15 percent of average strength.
3) All the beams strength of batch II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI and XII
are equal to or more than 4.2 N/mm2.
4) The average beams strength of batch II, III, IV and V is 4.97 N/mm 2 which
exceed 4.8 N/mm2.
5) The average of beams strength of batch III, IV, V, VI is 4.88 N/mm 2 which
exceed 4.8 N/mm2.
6) The average of beams strength of batch IV, V, VI and VII, is 5.10
N/mm2 which exceed 4.8 N/mmm2.
7) The average of beams strength of batch V, VI, VII and VIII is 4.98
N/mm2 which exceed 4.8 N/mm2.
8) The average of beams strength of batch VI, VII, VIII and IX is 5.19 N/mm 2,
which exceed 4.8 N/mm2.
9) The average of beams strength of batch VII, VIII, IX and X is 5.11
N/mm2 which exceed 4.8 N/mm2.
10) The average beams strength of batch VIII, IX, X and XI is 4.96
N/mm2 which exceed 4.8 N/mm2.
11) The average of beams strength of batch IX, X, XI and XII is 5.25
N/mm2 which exceed 4.8 N/mm2.
The above test results shows that the concrete has compliance of
characteristic flexural strength of 4.5 N/mm2.
REFERENCES

1. IS: 456-2000, Plain and reinforced concrete – code of practice (Fourth Revision) BIS, New Delhi.

2. IS: 516-1959, Method of test for strength of concrete, BIS, New Delhi.

3. IS: 1199-1959, Methods of sampling and analysis of concrete, BIS, New Delhi.

4. IRC: 15-2011, Standard specifications and code of practice for construction of concrete roads (Fourth Revision),

Indian Roads Congress, New Delhi.

5. Kishore Kaushal, Mix design for concrete Roads as per IRC: 15-2011 , Civil Engineering Materials and Testing,

pp.115-122 Standard Publishers Distributors 1705, B, Nai Sarak, Delhi – 110006.

Why do we test concrete compressive strength after 28
days?
Concrete gains strength with time after casting. It takes much time for
concrete to gain 100% strength and the time for same is still unknown. The
rate of gain of concrete compressive strength in higher during the first 28
days of casting and then it slows down.

The table below shows the compressive strength gained by concrete after 1, 3, 7, 14 and 28
days with respect to the grade of concrete we use.

Age Strength per cent

1 day 16%

3 days 40%

7 days 65%

14 days 90%

28 days 99%
From above table, we see that, concrete gains 16 percent strength in one day,
40 percent in 3 days, 65% in 7 days, 90% in 14 days and 99% strength in 28
days.

Thus, it is clear that concrete gains its strength rapidly in the initial days
after casting, i.e. 90% in only 14 days. When, its strength have reached 99%
in 28 days, still concrete continues to gain strength after that period, but that
rate of gain in compressive strength is very less compared to that in 28 days.

After 14 days of casting concrete, concrete gains only 9% in next 14 days. So,
rate of gain of strength decreases. We have no clear idea upto when the
concrete gains the strength, 1 year or 2 year, but it is assumed that concrete
may gain its final strength after 1 year.

So, since the concrete strength is 99% at 28 days, it’s almost close to its final
strength, thus we rely upon the results of compressive strength test after 28
days and use this strength as the base for our design and evaluation.

Though there are also some rapid method of testing concrete compressive
strength which gives relation between rapid test methods and 28 day
strength. This rapid test is done where time is limited for construction and
strength of structural member must be known to carry out further
construction work.