Sampling and Testing

Concrete Mixes

MATERIAL TESTING LABORATORY

Purpose

➢ Testing on freshly and hardened concrete

is necessary to ensure that specific
properties are achieved

➢ It is indispensable part of the construction

process imparting quality control and
acceptance criteria
 Sampling Freshly Mixed Concrete

ASTM C 172 and ACI 318 (Latest Edition)

➢Perform by qualified field testing
technicians
➢Frequency - once a day, or once every
150 cu yd of concrete, or once for each
5,000 sq ft of surface for slabs or walls
Not required for less than 50 cu yd with
evidence of satisfactory strength
 Sampling Freshly Mixed Concrete (Cont.)

➢ Sample from middle part of the batch

discharge
Sampling

➢ Sample from the mixer delivery point

unless other locations are required by
specifications
Sampling Freshly Mixed Concrete (Cont.)

➢ Elapsed time - no more than 15 minutes

between first and last portions.
➢ Size of Sample - minimum of 1 cu ft.
➢ Transport samples to area where tests
or molding will be performed
➢ Combine and remix to ensure
uniformity
 Testing Freshly Mixed Concrete
Consistency - ASTM C 143 (Slump Test)
 Standardcone 100 mm (4 in.) (top),
200 mm (8 in.) (bottom) diameters, and 12 in. tal

 Fill
mold in 3 equal
volume layers
 70 mm (2 ⅝ in.)
 160 mm (6 ⅛ in.)
 Top
Testing Freshly Mixed Concrete (Cont.)
➢ Tamp each layer 25 times with round steel
rod 16 mm (5/8 in.) diameter and 600 mm (24
in.) long
➢ Level top of the cone
Testing Freshly Mixed Concrete (Cont.)
➢ Lift up cone 300 mm (12 in.) in a single
movement in 5 ± 2 sec.
➢ Measure vertical difference between top of
mold and specimen original center
➢ Within 2.5 minutes
 Testing Freshly Mixed Concrete (Cont.)
Temperature - ASTM C 1064
Temperature limits are usually set for concrete mixes
➢ Thermometer accurate to ± 0.5 °F
➢ Wait for 2 minutes or until reading stabilizes
➢ 76 mm (3 in.) minimum should surround the
sensing portion
➢ Complete reading within 5 minutes after
obtaining sample
 Testing Freshly Mixed Concrete (Cont.)
Unit Weight and Yield - ASTM C 138
To Determine:
• Unit weight - Weight / Volume
• Yield – Ratio of measured unit weight of
concrete by sum of weight of individual
components
• Air content - percentage of voids
• Cement content
 Testing Freshly Mixed Concrete (Cont.)
Procedures
➢ Deposit concrete in 3 equal layers
➢ Compact each layer with a standard rod with
the following frequency:
 25 strokes for volumes less than 0.5 ft3
 50 strokes for 1 ft3
 One per 3 in.2 of surface for larger volumes
➢ Tap the exterior with a mallet 10 to 15 times
➢ Strike-off top surface and finish it
➢ Measure weigh of sample and container
Testing Freshly Mixed Concrete (Cont.)
Computations
• Unit weight:
D = (Wt – Wm) / Vm
• Yield:
Y (ft3) = Mix weight / (D x 27)
• Cement Content:
C = Wcement / Y
• Air Content:
A = [(Dtheo – D) / Dtheo] x 100
Testing Hardened Concrete
Preparing and Curing Specimens from
the field - ASTM C 31
Specimens of cylindrical shape are prepared to determine compressive
(ASTM C 39) and split-tensile strengths (ASTM C 496)
Molds (length-to-diameter ratio  2):
• 150 mm by 300 mm (6 in. by 12 in.) for
aggregates less than 50 mm (2 in.)
• 100 mm by 200 mm (4 in. by 8 in) for
aggregates less than 25 mm (1 in.)
Testing Hardened Concrete (Cont.)
Procedures
➢ Place molds in level, rigid, horizontal surface
➢ Deposit concrete in 3 equal layers
➢ Compact each layer applying 25 strokes with
a standard rod, and tapping the exterior of
the mold with a mallet 10 to 15 times
Testing Hardened Concrete (Cont.)

➢ Finish top surface

➢ Cover with nonabsorbent, nonreactive plate
or sheet of impervious plastic
➢ Initial curing (up to 48 hours) - away from
direct sun rays and radiant heating devices
at temperatures between 60 to 80°F
➢ Standard curing - remove from mold and
store in humid condition at a temperature of
73.4 ± 3 °F until time of testing
Compressive Strength of Concrete (Cont.)

ACI 318
➢ Strength - average of two cylinders from the
same sample tested at 28 days
➢ Acceptance criteria
 Average of three consecutive tests is
equal or exceed design strength
 No individual strength test falls below
design strength by 500 psi
Compressive Strength of Concrete
ASTM C 39
➢ Testing Machine - Enough capacity and
appropriate loading speed
→Displacement - 0.05 in/min
→Pressure - 20 to 50 psi/sec.
(565 to 1,414 lb/sec. for 6” cyl.)
➢ Strength - Maximum load / Average cross-
sectional area
➢ Length correction factors - length-to-
diameter ratios (L/D) smaller than 1.8
L/D: 1.751.50 1.25 1.00
Factor: 0.980.96 0.93 0.87
Concrete Behavior
 EVALUATION OF HARDENED CONCRETE

Conventional Methods

➢Compression Test
➢Split-Tension Test
➢Flexural Strength Test

Non-Conventional Methods

➢Rebound Hammer Test

(ASTM C805)
➢Penetration Resistance Test
(ASTM C803)
➢Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity Test
(ASTM C597)
➢Maturity Test
Rebound Hammer Test (ASTM C 805)
(Schmidt or Swiss Hammer Test)
Some Details

➢ Concrete 4 in. thick and fixed to the

structure
➢ Avoid areas with honeycomb, scaling,
or high porosity
➢ Prepare at least 6 in. area
➢ Smooth surface with abrasive stone
➢ Use readings from the same hammer for
comparisons
➢Minimum of 10 readings, 1 in. or more
apart (discard reading lower than 7 units
from the average. Only 2 are allowed)
Limitations

➢ Sensitive to local conditions

➢ Hard aggregates produce high
rebound
number
➢ Air voids produce low rebound number
➢ Do not compare grounded with
ungrounded surfaces
➢ Interior condition of concrete is not
evaluated
Penetration Resistance Test (ASTM C 803)
(Winsor Probe)
Some Details

➢ Concrete should have certain

resistance
to penetration
➢ Probes should be firmly embedded
➢ Probes have to be at least 7 in. apart
➢ Minimum of 3 probes to be considered
as a test. Discard probes that exceed
the average established by ASTM and
make another reading
➢ Test is insensitive to surface conditions
Limitations

➢ Aggregate type affect penetration for

the same concrete strength