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Schmidt Hammer Testing Guide

This paper will help you how to use Schmidt Hammer for evaluating of Concrete Strength at site.

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580 views

Schmidt Hammer Testing Guide

This paper will help you how to use Schmidt Hammer for evaluating of Concrete Strength at site.

Uploaded by

ကိုနေဝင်း
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 6

2000 CRC Press LLC

REBOUND NUMBER OF
HARDENED CONCRETE BY
THE SWISS HAMMER
(ASTM Designation: C 805)
PURPOSE
The purpose is to measure the rebound of a spring-loaded hardened steel l plunger after it has
struck a smooth, solid, concrete surface. Only empirical relationships can be obtained between
rebound hardness and the strength of the concrete. Unlike the standard test for the concrete strength,
ASTM Designation: C 39, this is a nondestructive test. In 1948 a Swiss engineer, Dr. Ernst Schmidt,
developed the rst generally accepted impact hammer. It is sometimes referred to as the Swiss
hammer.
MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT
Spring-loaded steel rebound hammer which when released strikes a steel 1 plunger in contact
with the concrete surface. The rebound distance of the steel hammer from the steel plunger
is measured on a linear scale attached to the frame of the hammer; note the detail of the
hammer and its method of use in Figures 38 and 39
Medium-grain, textured, silicon carbide abrasive stone for grinding smooth any loose mortar
or other imperfections on the surface of the concrete to be tested
High carbon tool steel test anvil, with dimensions of 15 cm diameter (6 in.) by 15 cm (6 in.)
in height, with a xture to center the rebound hammer over the impact area (hardened to
a Rockwell 65-67 C) and designed to keep the device perpendicular to the concrete surface,
the results of the test hammer should be veried twice a year by use of the test anvil (Figure 39)
TEST PROCEDURE
1. The test hammer should be held perpendicular to the concrete surface. The plunger should
be depressed by applying a gradual increase in pressure until it impacts. A reading is then
taken from the scale on the side of the test hammer, while holding it rmly against the
concrete. A button is provided to lock the pointer on the scale after impact in the event that
it is not convenient to take the reading while holding the test hammer against the concrete.
The latter case is particularly true when the hammer is held in an overhead position. Estimate
the rebound on the scale to the nearest whole number.
2000 CRC Press LLC
Figure 37 Typical impact hammer calibration curves. (Courtesy of ELE International, Inc., Soiltest Products
Division, Lake Bluff, IL)
2000 CRC Press LLC
2. Conversion graphs or tables are provided with the instrument to indicate a measure of
compressive strength with the reading obtained from the test hammer scale. A typical set of
such graphs is shown in Figure 37. Each instrument will come with its own set of graphs
or tables prepared by the manufacturer.
3. Take 10 readings from each test area, with all the readings separated by at least 2.5 cm (1 in.).
Disregard any reading where an impression is made on the surface of the concrete after the
hammer impact, whether through crushing or breaking the surface or for any other visible
surface imperfection.
4. If the rebound number on the anvil deviates from the nominal value shown on the
manufacturers instructions, the following formula applies:
Figure 38 Details of the impact hammer: condition on impact (1) plunger, (2) concrete surface, (3) body
assembly, (3a) body (lower) reducer, (3b) body (upper), (4) indicator block assembly, (5) indicator guide rod,
(5a) indicator block, (6) push button assembly, (7) plunger rod, (8) latch plate, (9) body reducer cap,
(10) plunger bushing retainer, (11) body end cap, (12) plunger return spring, (13) latch, (13a) latch spring,
(13b) latch pin, (14) hammer, (15) plunger springs, (16) hammer spring, (17) spring adjusting collar, (18) felt
washer, (19) indicator scale window, (20) adjusting bolt, (21) adjusting bolt nut, (22) stone. (Courtesy of ELE
International, Inc., Soiltest Products Division, Lake Bluff, IL.)
2000 CRC Press LLC
R = r/n(specied value on the anvil/R
a
)
where n = number of individual measurements, r, on the concrete, R
a
= rebound number of
the test hammer on the anvil, and R = number measured on the concrete.
EXPLANATION OF COMPUTATIONS AND DATA SHEET
1. Computations: Take the average of the 10 rebound readings. Discard those readings that
differ from this average by 6 or more units. Compute the new average and determine the
resultant compressive concrete strength. However, if more than two readings from the original
set of 10, differ by more than 6, the entire set should be discarded and 10 new rebound
readings taken at new locations within the test area.
2. Data Sheet: Ten readings are shown on the following data sheet. The average of the 10 was
found to be 49. However, two of the readings at 56 and 71 are 6 or more above the average
of 49. Therefore, they are discarded and a new average for the remaining 8 values were
computed to be 46. From the psi graph (Figure 37), the compressive strength of the concrete
was found to be 5400 psi for a vertically held hammer in a downward position. If a third
value was 6 or more above the average of 49, the entire set would have been discarded.
A blank data sheet is shown below and two additional ones are included in Appendix H.
Again it must be emphasized that no theoretical relationship exists between the plunger
rebound and the concrete strength. The rebound hammer should only be used in checking
concrete uniformity and in comparing one concrete with another, not for any measure of
absolute concrete strength.
Figure 39 (left) The impact hammer in operation in the vertical position, directed downward, and (right)
the calibration anvil for the impact hammer. (Courtesy of ELE International, Inc., Lake Bluff, IL.)
2000 CRC Press LLC
Illustrative Example (ASTM C 805)
Test Number Readings Remarks
1 45 Test on 28-day concrete cylindrical test specimen, 6 12 in. height.
Hammer held in a vertical position downward.
2 51
3 37
4 56
5 39
6 71
7 47
8 44
9 50
10 53
Average of 10 readings = 49
Reading nos. discarded, 4 and 6
New average = 46
Concrete compressive strength, kPa or psi = 5400 psi
2000 CRC Press LLC
Data Sheet (ASTM C 805)
Test Number Readings Remarks
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Average of 10 readings =
Reading nos. discarded,
New average =
Concrete compressive strength, kPa or psi =

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