WatiruTo Nac UA Semare usu aap Designation: C 109/C 109M — 99 apie an ead SAT See Da AST Standard Test Method for Compressive Strength of Hydraulic Cement Mortars (Using 2-in. or [50-mm] Cube Specimens)’ Fis mded ised anche od deg eal adoption arn tee sf en. ‘reper eptn (ni 1 C VR 194s rnb meen flening be desertion ie ie yor ‘ret ln muss in porate dies he oo appa eed sap se lat mic 1 sandr ay been approved for tb nis othe Deparmen of Dee 1, Scope 1 This tet method covers éetermination of the eompres- sive strength of hydraulic cement mortars, using 2-0. of [50-1] cabe specimens Nore 1—Teat Method C249 provides an eltcrnative procedure fi hit decnmination (otto be ase for acceptance 5), 1.2 This est method covets the application ofthe test using cithor inch-pound or SI units. The values stared in either system shall be regarded separately as standard. Within the tex, the SI lanits are shown in brackets, The values stated im each system ate not exact equivalents: therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the «wo systerns may result in nonconformance with the specication 113 Values in $1 units shall be obtained by measurement ia Sl units or by appropriate conversion, using the Rules for Conversion and Rounding given in Standard IEGE/ASTM SI 10, of measurements mide in other units 14 Phis standard does not purport to address all of the sajery concerns, any associated with is uve I 18 the responsiblity of the usor of ths standard to establish appro ‘priate sajets and health practices and determine the applica bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. 2. Referenced Documents 21 ASTM Standards: ©230 Specification for Flow Table for Use in Tests of Hyeraulic Comen™ (C305 Practice for Mechanical Mixing of Hydraulic Cement Pastes and Mortars of Plastic Consistency? (© 349 Tes Method for Compressive Siren of Hydraulic ‘Coment Mortars (Using Portions of Prisms Broken in Flexuroy? S11 Specification for Moist Cabinets, Moist Rooms and Water Storage Tanks Used in the Testing of Hydraulic Coments and Conoretes? 670 Practice for Preparing Precision and Bias Statements snd isthe deport of Sabsnniee C0127 on Stage ‘Canet eon apoved an. 99. Pabiied May 199), Cray bth oe C108 BUT Lan prion ebton © 109-9 eau Bok of ASTM Santon Ved 0101 for Test Methods for Construction Materials 778. Spocstication for Standard Sané® € 1005 Specification for Weis and Weighing Devices for Use in Physical Testing of Hydraulic Cements? IEEE/ASTM SI 10 Standaié for Use of the Intemational System of Lnits (SI): The Modem Metric System" 3. Summary of Test Meth« 3.1 The mortar used consists of I part coment and 2.75 parts ‘of sand. proportioned by mass. Portland or airentvaining portland cements are mixed at specisied water/cement ratios ‘Water content for other cements is that sufficient 10 cbtain a flow of 110 + 5 in 25 drops of the flow table. Twe-inch oF [S0-mm] test eubes ero compacted by tamping in Wo layers. ‘The eubes are cured one day in the molds and stripped and immersed in lime water until tested 4. Significance and Use 4.1 This test method provides a means of determining the compressive strength of hydraulic cement and other mortars and renults may be used to determine compliance with speci- fications. Funes, this test method is referenced by numerous ‘other specifications and (est methods. Caution must be exer- ised in using the resulis of this est metbed to predit the strength of coneretes, 5. Apparatus 5.1 Weights and Weighing Devices, shall conform to the requirements of Specification C1008. The weighing device shall be evaluated for precision and bias at a total load of 2000 8 5.2 Glass Graduates, of suitable capacities (preferably large enough to measure the mixing water in a single operation) to deliver the indicated volume at 20°C. The permissible variation shall be £2 mL. These graduates shall be subuivided to at least, 5 mL, except that the graduation lines may be omitted for the lowest [0 mL for a250-ml. graduate and forthe lowest 25 mL. fof 4 500-mI. graduate. The main graduation lines shall be circles and shall be numbered, The least graduations shall extend at least cme seventh ofthe way around, and intermediate Arma! Bk of ASTM Sundar, 08.2 Nl Bok of ASTM Serer NADYi ¢ 109/¢ 109m sraduations shall extend at least one ith of the way around. 53 Specimen Mola, for the 2-in. oF {30-mm) cube spec: smens shal be it fing. The molds shall have not mos than three cube cempariment and shall be separable sto not more than two pats. The parts ofthe molds when assembled sal be positively hid ogether. The molds shal be made of hard metal hot altacked by the cement monat. For new molds the Reckwell hardness numberof the metal shall be not less than 55 HRB, The sides of the molds shall be sufficient raid to prevent spreading or warping. The iterioe fews of the molds shall be plane surfaces and shal conform t the tolerances of Table | 54 Mixot Bowland Peddie, an slctrically driven meckeni- cal mixer of the type equipped with paddle snd mixing bow a specified in Practice € 305 5°5 low Table and Flow: Mold, conforming tothe eequite- rents of Specification © 230 56 Tamper, a nonabsorptive, ponabrasve, nonitle mate- al such ava rubher compound having a Shore A durometer hardness of $0 = 10 of seasoned oak wood rendered noaab sorptive by immersion for 1S min in paratin a approximately S9PF or [200°C], shall have a eros sion of about !by 1 in. ov [13 by 28 mn anc a convenient fengths af about $136 in or [120 to 130 mm]. The tamping face shall be lat and at right anges o the length ofthe tamper 5.7 Trowel, having a soo! Blade 4 to 6 in, (100 to 15D mm, in length, with sain edges. 53. Mots! Cabin! o” Rooms, conforming to the require ments of Specification C 511 539 Testing Machine, esther the hydraulic or the stew ype, ‘wiih safcicet opening between the upper beating surface and the loner beating surface ofthe machine to permit the use of ‘erifying apparatus. The load applied to the tat specimen shall be indicated with an accuracy of 0%. 1 the load appied by the compression machine is repstred on adil the dl shal be provided with a graduated Seale that can he read to at leas the nearest 0.1 % ofthe fll seale load (Note 2) The dal shall be readable within 1 9 of the indicated Toad at any given load level within the loseing range Inno case shall the loading range of a dal be considered to ince loads below the value ‘hats 100 times the smallest change of Toad tha cane read con the sele, The seleshall be provided witha graduation line cual (ze and So named. The dial pointer shall be of suficiont length to reach the graduation marks; he wich ofthe end of the pointer shall not exceed the clear distance between the Smatlest graduations. Esch dial shall be equipped with & zero adstnent that is csily acess fom te outs of the ial ease, and with a Suitable device tha at all nes unt reset, will indicate wo within | % zecuracy the maxiimam toad applied to the specimen. 59.1 [file esting machine load is indicated in digital form, ‘the numerical display must be large enough to be easly read ‘The numerical increment must be equal wo oF less than 0,10 % of the fl scale load ofa given loading range. In no case shall the verified loading range include loads less than the minirmum ‘numerical inerement maltiplied ay 100, The accuracy of the indicated load must be within 1.0% for any value displayed ‘within the verified loading range. Provision must be made for adjusting to indicate true zero at zero load. There shall be provide! a maximury load indicator that tall Himes wali reset will indicate within 1% system aceuracy the maximum load applied to the specimen. ‘Nowe 2--As lose as an be rend comidred $5 in. of (05 mm] along the ae described by the cod ofthe pnt Ala one bal of the scale irerval is outs cloe as can easly be read when the spacing fn he ad incating mechanism eee smo [1m a in fe [ mm] When the spacing i berween Visi. [1-6 nm andi OF [22 eam), ote tha of the sete inal can be eed Nth ensorable erat. When do spacing i ino (3.2 ene) or me, one fourth of the scale ineral ean be read with teasonable cori. 5.92 The upper bearing shall be x spherically seated, hardened metal block firmly atiached at the center ofthe upper head of the machine, The center of the sphere shall Ke at the center of the surfacs ofthe block in contact withthe speciman “The block shall be closely held in its sphcrcal scat. but shall be fee to ult in any direction, The diagonal ot diameter (Nete 3) of the bearing surface shall be only slightly greater than the ‘diagenal of the face of the 2-in. or [S0-mm] cube in order to facilitate accurate centering ofthe specimen. A hardened metal bearing block shall be used beneath the specimen to minimize wear of the lower platen ef the machine. The bearing block Surfaces intended for contact ith the specimen shall have 2 Rockvrell hardness mumber not loss than 60 HRC. These surfaces shall not depart from plane sarfaces by more than £00005 in. of [0.013 ram] when the blocks are new and shal be ‘maintained withia a permissible variation of 0.001 in, of [0.025 rami Nore JA diameter 03% In oF [78.4 mas ssetoy,ovevided that tbe lower Beanng block has 2 clamor slightly gester ‘han the Jiagoal ofthe ee a the 2-1 [Sm] cb tno ore hen 2915 for[24 mum} and is centared with epee othe upper bering Blak and bel in postion by suitable means 6, Materials 6. Grailed Standard Sand: 6.1.1 The sand (Note 4) used for making test specimens TABLE 1 Permissible Variations of Specimen Molds Tin Cine Hoes Born owe vo Plaenaas of see 00 aan in [ocr [ods mm Dstaco beter apsste ses Fin = Sees Be Oe booms 333mm [som 050 me elgitol sech congener bin + Ot Ein + 004, Bonm= o2snm [sons ozone "odoin oer 0:3 ml, ogi betwee socom” o's 05 0" os weno" feast a pont gry erode he Fersecton Nessirad para ac) coroatmentinvean alta air avast sacar ace anahehaer smeae aves and p a Da aren eaib c 109/¢ 109m shall be natural silica sand eoniformiing «0 the requirements f sraded standard sand in Specification C778. Nowe 4 ieprezaion of Graded Sank—The grated standart sant shew be faneted in such a mner at to prvent segregater, nse ‘rotons nthe grading ofthe nd cause vito inthe consistency of tho morte In capyng bine or sacks, cre sou be ected to pret the frmution oF moun of sand or caters in the san, down ihe sane ‘of which the couse: putes wl el. Bits Should be sient ize 16 Permit these precautions Devices for drawing the sand torn ine by raity should othe ed 7. Temperature and Humidity 711 Temporaiure—The tomperature ofthe air in the vicinity of the mixing slab, the dry materials, molds, base plates, and ‘mixing bowl, shall be maintained between 68 and 81.5°F oF {20 and 27.5°C]. The temperature of the mixing water, moist closet or moist oom, and water inthe storage tank shall be set st 735 © 35°F or [23 2°C] and shall not vary from this temperature hy more than ¥°F or (= 17°C}. 42. Humidiy—The relative humidity ofthe laboratory shal the wor less than 50%. The moist closet or moist room shall conform to the requirements of Specification $11 8, Test Specimens 41 Make wo or theee specimens from a batch of mortar for cach period of test or test age 9. Preparation of Specimen Molds 9.1. Apply a hin costing of release agon othe interior faces of the mokd and non-absorpive base plates. Apply oils and ‘greases using an impregnated cloth or other suitable means. Wipe the mold faces and she base plate with a cloth as necessary to remove any excess release agent and to achieve a thin, even coating on the interior surfaces. When using an serosol lubricant, spray the release agent directly onto the mold faces and base plate from a distance of 6 18 in. or [150 c0 260 rm] to achieve complete coverage. After spraying, wipe the surface with 2 cloth as necessary to remove any excess aerosol Tubricant. The residue coating should be just suficient to allow a distinc fingerprint ro remain following light fingce pressure (Note 5). ‘92 Seal the surfaces where the halves of the mold join by applying a coating of light cup grease such as perolaturn, The amount should be sulicient 10 extrude slightly when the two halves ate tightened together. Remove any excess grease with cloth 93 After placing the mold on is hase plate (and altching, iffclamp-type) carefully remove with a cry cloth any excess ol) for grsase from the surface of the mold and the base plate 0 which watertight sealant is 10 be applied, AS a sealget, use paraffin, microcrystalline wax, or a mixture of thre pars paraffin’ to five pars rosin by: mass. Liguify the sealant by heating between 230 and 248°F or {110 and 120°C), Effect a watertight seal by applying the liquefied sealant atthe cutside contact lines between the mold and its base plate Now SBeeause aeroso) Mibcamts evaporite, molds shoald_ be eked fora scent eating of aprisnt mmeditly prio to we 12h vind perl of time has elapsed ose teument,rerestnen aly be Nor 6 Mowstigh Molds The mitre of prin sn rosin speciteg {0 seating te jlns between mols and hase aes may be Found iil to remeve hon melds are being Geaned. Use of aight paris ponmisible Is watertight ji i cere bul ci Tote Tow erongh of Paani sold be sed only whes the oldie not helt the bee plate byt pas alne. A watartgh jin ay be secured with praia lone ‘by slighty warning the rd and baseplate before brushing the jin Molds so weated shoud be allowed. etn vo the specified temperate fone use 10. Procedure 10.1 Composition of Mortars 10.1.1 The proportions of materials forthe standard mortar shall be one part of cement 10 2.75 parts of graded stedard ‘nd by weight Use a [Link] ratio of D485 for all portland cements and 0.460 for all aiventaining portland ements. The amount oF mixing water for other tan portland and ai-entraining porand cements shal be such as to produce a flow of 11D + 5 as determin in accordance wih 103 and shall be expressed as woightporeent of cement 10.12 The quantities of materia tobe mixed atone time in the batch of morta for making six and nine test specimens shall be as follows ‘onan (0.406) wp ‘nearing estar (0480) mp Cher (oto of 19 5) 10.2 Preparation of Mortar 10.2.1 Mechanically mix in accordance with the procedure siven in Practice C 305, 103 Determination of Flow: 10.3.1 Carefully wipe the flow-table top clean and dry and place the flow mold atthe center. Place layer of mortar about 1 in, o¢ (25 rom] in thickness in the moll and tamp 20 times ‘with the tamper. The tamping pressure shal be just suficent to censure uniform filing of the mold. Then fill dhe mold with ‘mone and tamp as specified for she frst layer Cot off the tora to a plane surface, fush with the top of the mold, by Grawing the Sraight edge of a trowel (held nearly pecpendicu Jar to the mold) with a sawing nvotien across the top of the "mold, Wipe the tabletop clean and dry, being especially earful to remove any water fiom around the edye of the flow mold Lift the mold away from the mortar I min ater completing the mining operation. Imesdiataly, drop the table through a hoight of Ye in. or (13 mun) 25 times in 15 s. Using the calipers, determine the Flow by measuring the diameters of the mortar slong the lines seribed in the table top, adding the four readings. The tol of te Four readings rom the eslipers equals the percent increase of the original diameter ofthe mortar 10.32 For portland and airentraining portland cements, merely record the flow. 10.3.3 In the case of cements other than portand or ait- entraining portland cements, make teal mortars with varying [percentages of water uni the specified flow is obcained. Make cach trial with fresh mora, 10.4 Molding Test Specimens 10.41 Immediately following completion of the flows test,bc 109/¢ 109m retura the mortar from the few table to the mixing bow (Quickly serape the bove sides and transfer ino the batch the ‘mortar that may haye collected on the side of die bow and then remix the entire batch 15 « at medium speed. Upon completion Gf mixing, the mixing paddle shall be shaken 0 remove excess mortar into the mixing bow 1042 When a duplicate batch ist be made immediately for additional specimens, the few tot may be orited and the morar allowed to sand in the mixing bow! 90 s without covering. Daring the last 15 s of this imtervaly quickly aerape the bow sides and transfer Into the batch the moriar thet my have collected on the side of the bowl, Then remix for 15 sat media speed 104.3 Stan molding the specimens within ¢ total elapsed time of not more than 2 mint and 30 s after completion of the original mixing of the mortar batch. Place a layer of mortar about 1 in, oF 25 mm] (approximately ene half of the depth of the mold) inal ofthe cube compartments Tamp the mort in cach cube compartment 32 times in about 10 5 in 4 rounds, each round to be at right angles fo the other and consisting of eight adjoining strokes over the surface of the specimen, as iMustated in Fig. 1 The wmping pressure shall be just sufficient to ensure uniform filling ofthe melds, The 4 rounds of amping (32 stokes) ofthe mortar shall be completed in ane ‘cube Bofors going to the nest. When the tamping ofthe first layer in all of the eube compartments is completed, fil the compartments with the remaining mortar and then tamp as specified forthe first layer. During taming ofthe second layer bring in the morar force! ou: onto the 1ops of the melds after Jb round of tamping by means of the gloved fingers and the tamper upon completion of each round and before staring the next round of tamping. On completion of the taping, the tops tf all eubes should extend slighily above the tops ef the molds Bring in the mortar that has been forced out onto the tops of the molds with 1 trowel and smooth off the cubes by drawing the fat side of the trowel (with the lending edge shghtly raised) jonce actoss the top of each cube at right angles to the length of the riald. Then, for the purpose of leveling tne mortar and making the mortar that protrudes above the top ofthe mold of more uniform thickness, draw tho flat sie ofthe towel (with the leading edge slightly raised) lightly once along the length ‘of the mold. Ct off the mortar to a plane surface fash with the top ofthe mold by drawing the straightedge ofthe uowel (held nearly perpendicular 0 the mold) with a sawing motion over the length of the mold, 10.5 Siorege of Test Specimenc—tmmediately upon completion of molding, place the t=s1 specimens in the moist closet er most room. Keep all test specimens, immediately Roundsiond$ Rounds 2and + FIG. 1 Order of Taming In Molding of Test Spacimens. after molding, in the molds on the base plates in the moist Closet or moist room from 20 to 72 b with their upper surfaces ‘exposed to the mois! air but protecied ftom dripping water. I the specimens are removed from the molds before 24 A, keep ‘them on the shelves of the moist closet or mois: raom antl they are 24-h old, and thon immerse the specimens, except those for the 24h test, in strurated lime water in storage tanks eon structed of noncorroding matcrals. Keep the Storage water clean by changing as required 10.6 Deteronination of Compressive Strength: 10.5.1 Tost che specimens immediately after their removal from the moist closet inthe case of 24-k specimens, and fiom Storage water in the case of all gther specimens, ll test specimens for a given lest age shall be broken within the permissible tolerance prescribed as follows ~e teat he te Ht wos ann If more than ane specimen at 4 ime is remaved from the moist closet forthe 24-h tests, keep these specimens covered with a damp cloth until time of testing, If more than one specimen at a time is removed from the storage water for esting, keep these specimens in water at a temperarure of 7BSH 35°F or [23 + FC] and of sufficient depth to ‘completely immerse each specimen until time of testing. 10.5.2 Wipe exch specimen toa surface-cry condition, and remove any loose sand grains or inerusiations from the faces that will be in contact with the bearing blocks of the testing ‘machine. Check these faces by applying a straightedge (Note 7). AF thore is sppreciable curvature, grind the face or faces tO plane surfaces or diseard the specimen. A periodic check ofthe cross-sectional area ofthe specimens should b= made. Nore ToSoecien Faces -Resuls much yer tha ihe sve seg will odainee by lacing fees of te oad Specimen tha ate ot wy Plane saraces Therefore. tis eset tm specimen mole Be Kept ferupulusty clean as cakes, ae wtepulaeties ithe srtaos wll ‘veo sient for elaning melds should alvays be softer han bo ‘metal i the molds t prevent wenn [neat grinding specimen fees i roves ican ke accomplisod best y abt tke speemen on a sce Of fine emery paper or clth glued 6 a plane surice uve Only a mocerie presse. Sich grinding is tedious for more than 2 fw thousanils of an meh (ustrodths ofa millet wnere mae hn tt 1s found necestsy ti recommended fa he epeciman be dicir 10.63 Apply the load o specimen faces that were in coneact, with the true plane surfaces of the mold. Carcflly place the specimen in the testing machine below the cemter ofthe upper bearing block. Prior to the testing of exch cube, st shall be ‘scorned thatthe spherically scoted block is fiee to tk, Use no cushioning or bedding materials. Bring the spherically seated block teto uniform cantact with the surface of the specimen, Apply the load rate ata relative rate of movement between the upper and lower platens corresponding to a loading on the specimen with the range 0200 0 400 Tbs [900 to 1800 NI]. Obtain this dosignated rato of movornent of the platen curing the first half of the emticipated maximum load And make no adjustment inthe rate of movement ofthe platen in the lator half of the loading especially while the eube ishc 10070 100m vielding before feilure. ine BI scuasbie to apply nly a ery light cotng oa good quality light mizeal ol to the spherical sat of he upper plten 11. Cateutation U1 Record the total maximum load indicated by the testing machine, and calculate the compressive strengt as follows nvm Pit a whore: Jv ~ compressive strcagth i psi or [MPa}, P= toral masinuam load in DBP or (N}, and 4 srea of loaded surface in® or {rm Either 2-in. or [50-mm] cube specimens may be used forthe determination of compressive strength, whether inch-pound or SI units are used. However, consistent units for load and area must be used to ealenlsto strength in the units selected. Ifthe «cross-sectional area ofa specimen varies more than 1.5% from the nominal, use the actual area for the calculation of the ‘compressive sienth. The compressive strength of all ccept- able test specimens (See Section 12) made from the same sample and tested at the sane period shall be avereged and reported to the nearest 10 pei [0.1 MP3} 12, Report 12.1 Report the flow to the nearest 1 % ancl the water used to the nearest 0.1%, Average compressive strength of all specimens fom the same sample shall be reported to the nearest 10 psi [0.1 MPa} 13, Faulty Specimens and Retests 13.1 In Getermining the compressive strength, do not con: sider specimens that are manifestly faulty. 13.2 The maximum permissible range bewveen specimens from the sams mortar batch, atthe sare test age is 8.7 “6 ofthe average when three cubes representa te age and 7.6% when ‘neo eubes representa test age (Note 9), Fore 9—The moby of exceeding ese ranges | i 10 when ‘he wituetch cnet of varon se 2 To The 21s a8 average Fee lbortones pacing in he potand cement ant masonry cont reference sample programs of the Cement and Conerte Reference Caters, 13.3 IF the range of three specimens exoveds the maximum in 13.2, discard the result whieh differs most from the average and check the range of the reraaining two specimens. Make & retest of the sample if lose than two specimens remain. after disgarding faulty specimens or disgarding tests that fil to comply with she macimum permissible range of two speci= Note 20-—Relilestengt ess depen yponciefl observance of all othe specifed requirements and procedures. Ee results ta given ‘est pericd indicate that some the esuemens and proces have mo bean crcl observed; for example, those covering the testing of the spoeiners a8 rcseribed in 106.2 and 1063, Improper centring of species resting in oblique fgcures or acral mover of one ofthe eats oF te tsing machine hing Kaci will cause lower Seng resus 14, Precision and Bias 141 Precsion—The precision siatoments for this tst ‘method are liste in Table 2 and are based on results for the Coment and Coneceto Reference Laboratory Reference Sample rogram. They are devcloped from daa whet a test rest is the average of compressive strength tests of three cubes molded fom a single batch of mortar and tested at the same ‘ge. A sgniticent change in precision wil not be noted when a test result is the average of two cubes rather than tree 142 These precision statements are applicable to mortars ‘made with coments mixed, and tested atthe ages as noted The appropriate limits ate likely, somewhat lager for tess at younger ages and slighty smaller for tests at older ages 143 Bias—The precedure in this test method has n0 bias because the value of compressive strength is éefined in toms ofthe test method 15. Keywords 15.1 compressive sienath; Fydraulie cement mort; y= Gralie coment suength, mortar strength strength TABLE 2 Precision “ett Raion Range te Boe SE sano aoe! e ? o aise 2 8 we and Cama Cot ota ‘Sapeine 2 om a ou a BOG a ie ™ Er Sachin 7 19 a 2 2B fa a mR ross 7 mae » * eS ZT RS SEEN eee he (IGb c t09/¢ 109m ‘Tre ner Soy Test ara Malan ter 2 positon sping te val fen patie scored eommecon wan ary ocean mis ana isos srr are xeessh asad ts dor oe cacy ony acs Sater sarc ters of wigan eng, are ery eo oan espa 1s sara et trav at tna by th operable eds armies ants eevee fie years and Lectrovsa ete eapprved rv Your Conran ore ed sab ronaoso! tesla ress setss sr shold be aesaeo W STH Hondqarbns Your comers wi Tce carts canoaion a3 erga te eaponable Testa comma wich ou ay ate. yu el a ou cents have ered ang esha Ne yee ‘ona Arn tothe ABT Coie on Sten 190 Sar Karty Dike est Carsroncton, Ps 18623,