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 BRITISH STANDARD BS 1881-121:
1983

Testing concrete —
Part 121: Method for determination of
static modulus of elasticity in
compression
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UDC 666.972.017:691.32:620.1
 BS 1881-121:1983

Cooperating organizations

The Cement, Gypsum, Aggregates and Quarry Products Standards

Committee, under whose direction this British Standard was prepared,
consists of representatives from the following:
Association of Consulting Engineers Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors*
Association of County Councils Gypsum Products Development Association
Association of District Councils Institute of Quarrying
Association of Metropolitan Authorities Institution of Highway Engineers*
Autoclaved Aerated Concrete Products Institution of Municipal Engineers*
Association Institution of Public Health Engineers
British Precast Concrete Federation Ltd.* Institution of Structural Engineers*
British Quarrying and Slag Federation* Institution of Water Engineers and Scientists*
British Railways Board National Federation of Building Trades
British Ready Mixed Concrete Association* Employers*
British Steel Industry Natural Environment Research Council
Cement Admixtures Association (Institute of Geological Science)
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Cement and Concrete Association* Royal Institute of British Architects*

Cement Makers’ Federation* Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors*
Chemical Industries Association Sand and Ballast Hauliers and Allied
Concrete Society Limited* Trades Alliance
County Surveyors’ Society* Sand and Gravel Association Limited*
Department of the Environment Society of Chemical Industry*
(Building Research Establishment)* Stone Federation
Department of the Environment (PSA)*
Department of the Environment
(Transport and Road Research
Laboratory)*
Department of Transport*

The organizations marked with an asterisk in the above list, together with the
following, were directly represented on the Technical Committee entrusted
with the preparation of this British Standard:

British Civil Engineering Test Equipment Greater London Council

Manufacturers’ Association Institute of Concrete Technology
Electricity Supply Industry in England and Coopted member
Wales

This British Standard, having

been prepared under the
direction of the Cement,
Gypsum, Aggregates and
Quarry Products Standards
Committee, was published
under the authority of the
Board of BSI and comes Amendments issued since publication
into effect on
31 January 1983
Amd. No. Date of issue Comments
© BSI 12-1998

The following BSI references

relate to the work on this
standard:
Committee reference CAB/4
Draft for comment 80/14205 DC

ISBN 0 580 12958 6

 BS 1881-121:1983

Contents

Page
Cooperating organization Inside front cover
Foreword ii
1 Scope 3
2 Definitions 3
3 Apparatus 3
4 Test specimens 3
5 Procedure 4
6 Calculation and expression of results 4
7 Test report 4
Licensed Copy: University of Edinburgh Educational Use Only, May 14, 2002, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

Publications referred to Inside back cover

© BSI 12-1998 i
 BS 1881-121:1983

Foreword

This Part of this standard, prepared under the direction of the Cement, Gypsum,
Aggregates and Quarry Products Standards Committee, is a revision of clause 3
of BS 1881-5:1970 which has been deleted by Amendment No. 1 to that standard.
This static modulus of elasticity test is taken direct, with minor deviations, from
ISO 6784, published by the International Organization for
Standardization (ISO), which adopted a UK draft.
No estimate of repeatability or reproducibility is given in this Part of this British
Standard. Reference should be made to BS 5497-1 for further information on the
determination of repeatability and reproducibility.
A British Standard does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a
contract. Users of British Standards are responsible for their correct application.
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Compliance with a British Standard does not of itself confer immunity

from legal obligations.

Summary of pages
This document comprises a front cover, an inside front cover, pages i and ii,
pages 1 to 6, an inside back cover and a back cover.
This standard has been updated (see copyright date) and may have had
amendments incorporated. This will be indicated in the amendment table on
the inside front cover.

ii © BSI 12-1998
 BS 1881-121:1983

TESTING CONCRETE
SUMMARY OF PUBLISHED BRITISH STANDARDS
Due to the present restructuring of BS1881 Methods of testing concrete and BS4408 Recommendations for non-destructive methods of
test for concrete, the following information has been published, to help keep readers up-to-date, with the situation so far.
(February 1983).

BS 1881-1:1970 Method of sampling fresh concrete on site

Method of mixing and sampling fresh concrete in the laboratory
BS 1881-2:1970 Slump test
Compacting factor test
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“V–B” consistometer test

Method for determination of weight per cubic metre of fresh concrete
Method for determination of air content of fresh concrete
Analysis of fresh concrete
BS 1881-3:1970 Making and curing test cubes
Making and curing no-fines test cubes
Making and curing test beams
Making and curing test cylinders
Method for accelerating the curing of test specimens:
1) the 55 °C method
2) the 82 °C method
BS 1881-5:1970 Method for determination of the dynamic modulus of elasticity by an
electrodynamic method
Method for determination of changes in length of concrete prisms (initial
drying shrinkage, drying shrinkage and wetting expansion)
Method for determination of initial surface absorption
BS 1881-6:1971 Analysis of hardened concrete
BS 1881-114:1983 Method for determination of density of hardened concrete
BS 1881-115:1983 Specification for compression testing machines for concrete
BS 1881-116:1983 Method for determination of compressive strength of concrete cubes
BS 1881-117:1983 Method for determination of tensile splitting strength
BS 1881-118:1983 Method for determination of flexural strength
BS 1881-119:1983 Method for determination of compressive strength using portions of beams broken in
flexure (equivalent cube method)
BS 1881-120:1983 Method for determination of the compressive strength of concrete cones
BS 1881-121:1983 Method for determination of static modulus of elasticity in compression
BS 1881-122:1983 Method for determination of water absorption
BS 4408-1:1969 Electromagnetic cover measuring devices
BS 4408-2:1969 Strain gauges for concrete investigations
BS 4408-3:1970 Gamma radiography of concrete
BS 4408-4:1971 Surface hardness methods of testing concrete
BS 4408-5:1974 Measurement of the velocity of ultrasonic pulses in concrete.

© BSI 12-1998 1
 Licensed Copy: University of Edinburgh Educational Use Only, May 14, 2002, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

2
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 BS 1881-121:1983

1 Scope If adhesives are used for the fixing points they

should be rapid setting and set hard. The specimen
This Part of this British Standard describes a
shall be removed from the curing tank for as short a
method for the determination of the static modulus
time as possible to allow the surface to be dried for
of elasticity in compression of hardened concrete, on
the application of adhesive. Specimens shall not be
test specimens which may be cast or taken from a less than 7 days old when removed for this purpose.
structure. Specimens shall be re-immersed in water for a
minimum of 12 h before testing.
2 Definitions
For the purposes of this Part of this standard the 4 Test specimens
definitions in BS 5328 apply together with the 4.1 General. A minimum of four moulded
following.
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specimens shall be made. Three of these shall be

static modulus of elasticity in compression used to determine the mean compressive strength or
the secant modulus, which, in newtons per square alternatively, three extra cubes may be made at the
millimetre, is calculated from the formula: same time as the specimens for this test and tested
to obtain the compressive strength of the concrete.
∆s
------- For specimens taken from a structure the
∆e
compressive strength may be estimated from other
where ∆s and ∆e are the differences in stress and information available.
strain, respectively, between a basic loading level NOTE Moulded test specimens should preferably be
of 0.5 N/mm2 and an upper loading level of cylinders 150 mm in diameter and 300 mm in height.
one-third of the compressive strength of the concrete Alternatively, other test specimens may be used, provided that
the length to diameter ratio, l/d is not less than 2 nor more
than 5, where l is the length and d the diameter, or, for a square
3 Apparatus cross-section, d is the width of one face of the specimen.
3.1 Compression testing machine. The machine shall The minimum dimensions of moulded specimens
comply with BS 1881-115 for compression testing shall be 100 mm or at least four times the nominal
machines. It shall be capable of applying the load at maximum size of aggregate in the concrete
the specified rate and maintaining it at the required whichever is the larger. In the case of specimens
level. drilled or cut out of a structure or other sample of
concrete these dimensions shall be not less than
3.2 Strain measuring apparatus. The strain three times the nominal maximum size of aggregate
measuring apparatus shall have an accuracy in the concrete nor less than 100 mm.
of ± 5 micro strain.
4.2 Preparation of test specimens
Instruments for measuring length (for example
mirror or dial gauge extensometers, resistance 4.2.1 Moulded test specimens (beams or cylinders)
strain gauges, inductance gauges, vibrating wire shall be made, cured and stored in accordance with
strain gauges) shall have a gauge length of not less the relevant Parts of this standard. In addition, for
than two-thirds of the width or diameter of the test cylindrical specimens, whilst the concrete is still
specimen (2/3d) and shall be attached in such a way plastic first finish the surface of the concrete level
that the gauge points are equidistant from the two with the top of the mould and then press the top
ends of the specimen and at a distance not less than plate, coated with a thin film of mould oil, down on
one-quarter of the length of the test specimen (L/4) to the concrete with a rotary motion until it makes
from its ends. complete contact with the rim of the mould. Attach
the top plate rigidly to the top of the mould and lay
At least one pair of measurements shall be taken on the mould, with top and base plates, with its axis
opposite sides of the specimen. With rectangular horizontal on supports which prevent any
specimens cast in a horizontal position, the gauge movement. Lightly tap the capping plate to ensure
lengths should be arranged on the vertical sides as good contact with the trowelled surface of the
cast. concrete. Allow the cylinder to harden in a
NOTE Where fixing points for extensometers are required, horizontal position until it is removed from the
threaded inserts cast into the specimen are preferred.
mould.
4.2.2 Specimens drilled as cores from a structure
shall be drilled, stored and their ends prepared by
grinding or capping in accordance with Part 120 of
this standard.

© BSI 12-1998 3
 BS 1881-121:1983

4.2.3 Unless rectangular moulded specimens Maintain the stress for 60 s and record the strain
comply with the dimensional tolerances in 4.3, their readings taken during the succeeding 30 s at each
ends and those of other sawn specimens shall be measurement line. If the individual strains are not
ground to conform with the tolerances. within a range of ± 10 % of their mean value at sa,
NOTE Moulds for beams do not necessarily conform with the recentre the test specimen and repeat the test. If it
squareness tolerance for the end face relative to the axis. is not possible to reduce the differences to within
4.3 Tolerances. The tolerances in accordance with this range, do not proceed with the test.
BS 308-3 of the prepared specimens shall be as When the centring is sufficiently accurate reduce
follows. the load, at the same rate as during loading, to the
a) Flatness. The flatness tolerance for the level of the basic stress. Carry out at least two
prepared end surfaces shall be 0.06 mm wide. additional preloading cycles, using the same loading
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and unloading rate, and maintaining the stress

b) Squareness. The squareness tolerance (sa and sb) constant for a period of 60 s. After
(squareness 3 of BS 308-3) for the end prepared completion of the last preloading cycle and a waiting
first with respect to the axis of the specimen as period of 60 s under the stress sb = 0.5 N/mm2, at
datum axis shall be 2.0 mm wide. the various measurement lines record the strain
c) Parallelism. The parallelism tolerance reading, eb, taken during the succeeding 30 s.
(parallelism 4 of BS 308-3) for the prepared Reload the specimen to stress sa at the specified
surface with respect to the opposite surface of the rate, and at the various measurement lines record
specimen as datum face shall be 2.0 mm wide for the strain reading ea, taken within 30 s.
all specimens. For rectangular specimens, the
parallelism tolerance of opposite sides of the When all elasticity measurements have been
specimen shall also be 2.0 mm wide. completed, increase the load on the test specimen, at
the specified rate, until failure of the specimen
d) Cylindricity. The cylindricity tolerance for occurs. If the compressive strength of the specimen
moulded cylindrical specimens shall be 2.0 mm or differs from fc by more than 20 %, this shall be noted
as given in BS 1881-120. in the test report.
4.4 Density. Measure the as-received or saturated
density of the specimens by the method described 6 Calculation and expression of results
in BS 1881-114.
Calculate the mean strain ea and eb respectively.
5 Procedure The static modulus of elasticity in compression Ec
(in N/mm2) is given by the formula
5.1 Determination of compressive strength. All
specimens shall be tested in a moist condition. ∆s sa – sb
------- = ---------------------
-
∆e e – e
Determine the compressive strength of the concrete a b
on three companion specimens, from the same batch where
as those to be used for the determination of the
static modulus of elasticity, and made and cured
under similar conditions, by the compression test sa is the upper loading stress (in N/mm2)
carried out in accordance with BS 1881-116. (sa = fc/3);
NOTE Alternatively, the compressive strength may be sb is the basic stress (i.e. 0.5 N/mm2);
estimated on other information available, e.g. from cube ea is the mean strain under the upper loading
strengths and the basis of the estimate reported.
stress;
The mean value of the compressive strength, fc,
determines the stress applied in the determination eb is the mean strain under the basic stress.
of static modulus of elasticity.
Express the result to the nearest 500 N/mm2 for
5.2 Determination of static modulus of values over 10 000 N/mm2, and to the
elasticity. Place the test specimen, with the nearest 100 N/mm2 for values below 10 000 N/mm2.
measuring instruments or fixing points attached
axially, centrally in the machine. Apply the basic 7 Test report
stress of 0.5 N/mm2 (sb), and record the strain gauge
7.1 General. The test report shall affirm that the
readings taken at each measurement line.
tests were carried out in accordance with this Part
Steadily increase the stress at a constant rate of this standard. The report shall also state whether
within the range 0.6 ± 0.4 N/(mm2·s) until the stress or not certificates of sampling, specimen
equal to one-third of the compressive strength of the preparation and curing are available. If available, a
concrete (sa = fc/3) is reached. copy of each certificate shall be provided.
NOTE The preferred rate is 0.6 N/(mm2·s).

4 © BSI 12-1998
 BS 1881-121:1983

7.2 Information to be provided by the 7.3 Information to be provided by the test

producer of the test specimens for inclusion in laboratory for inclusion in the test report. The
the test report following information shall be provided by the test
7.2.1 Mandatory information. The following laboratory for inclusion in the test report:
information shall be provided by the producer of the a) condition of the specimen when received, and
test specimens for inclusion in the test report: any surface treatment;
a) date, time and place of sampling and sample b) type and dimensions of the specimen;
identity number; c) date of receipt of the specimen;
b) identification of the specimen; d) conditions of curing and storage;
c) time and place of making specimens; e) date of test;
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d) date of production of the concrete; f) age of the specimen at the time of testing;
e) number and nominal size of specimens; g) density (as-received or saturated and method
f) conditions of curing and storage; of determining volume);
g) name of person making specimens; h) type and number of measuring instruments
h) required age of the specimen at the time of and the gauge length;
testing, or date of testing if the age is not known. i) mean compressive strength of the companion
specimens or, if estimated, the basis of the
7.2.2 Optional information. If requested the
following information shall be provided by the estimate;
producer of the test specimens for inclusion in the j) compressive strength of the specimen used for
test report: the determination of the static modulus of
elasticity;
a) building project;
k) static modulus of elasticity;
b) part or component of the building;
l) appearance of the concrete and type of fracture,
c) admixtures used;
if unusual;
d) specified compressive strength.
m) certificate that the test has been carried out in
accordance with this Part of this standard;
n) other remarks.

© BSI 12-1998 5
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6
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 BS 1881-121:1983

Publications referred to

BS 308, Engineering drawing practice.

BS 308-3, Geometrical tolerancing.
BS 1881, Testing concrete.
BS 1881-114, Method for determination of density of hardened concrete.
BS 1881-115, Specification for compression testing machines for concrete.
BS 1881-116, Method for determination of compressive strength of concrete cubes.
BS 1881-120, Method for determination of the compressive strength of concrete cores.
BS 5328, Methods for specifying concrete, Including ready-mixed concrete.
BS 5497, Precision of test methods1).
BS 5497-1, Guide for the determination of repeatability and reproducibility for a standard test method.
Licensed Copy: University of Edinburgh Educational Use Only, May 14, 2002, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

ISO 6784, Concrete — Determination of static modulus of elasticity in compression1).

1) Referred to in the foreword only.

© BSI 12-1998
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