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IS516

The document discusses the compressive strength of concrete which is given as the characteristic strength at 28 days (fck). Concrete gains strength over time with the highest rate in the first 28 days. Characteristic strength is the strength below which not more than 5% of test results are expected to fall.

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Malaippan Sindhu M AP-Civil
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47 views

IS516

The document discusses the compressive strength of concrete which is given as the characteristic strength at 28 days (fck). Concrete gains strength over time with the highest rate in the first 28 days. Characteristic strength is the strength below which not more than 5% of test results are expected to fall.

Uploaded by

Malaippan Sindhu M AP-Civil
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
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Compressive Strength of Concrete

1. Objective
The compressive strength of concrete is given in terms of the characteristic compressive strength
of 150 mm size cubes tested at 28 days (fck)- as per Indian Standards (ACI standards use cylinder
of diameter 150 mm and height 300 mm). The characteristic strength is defined as the strength of
the concrete below which not more than 5% of the test results are expected to fall.

Concrete gains strength with time, after pouring and casting. It takes very long time to gain 100%
strength and it often remains unknown. The rate of gain of compressive strength is higher during
the first 28 days of casting, which gradually slows down. Therefore, compressive strength is
checked after 28 days. The Characteristic Strength of Concrete (fck) is defined as the compressive
strength of concrete cubes (cast as per relevant code of practice, cured for 28 days and then tested)
below which not more than 5% of the test results are expected to fall.

Characteristic strength of concrete is the strength of concrete specimens casted and tested as per
given code of practice and cured for a period of 28 days; 95% of tested cubes should not have a
value less than this value.

Fig. 1: Normal Distribution curve on test


specimens for determining compressive
strength

2. Apparatus Required :
The test shall be carried out using a compression testing machine conforming to IS:14858. The
test machine shall be in calibration at the time of test. The calibration shall be carried out at least
once per year.
3. Reference
IS-516 (Part-1/Sec-1):2021 “Hardened Concrete – Methods of Test. Part-1: Testing of Strength of
Hardened Concrete. Section-1: Compressive, Flexural and Split Tensile Strength”.

4. Test Specimen
4.1 The test specimen shall be a cube or a cylinder meeting the requirements of IS:1199 (Part 5)
and IS:516 (Part 4) for concrete cores. The standard cube and cylinder specimen shall not be
tested if they are badly honeycombed as this is an indication of poor specimen making. When
such specimens are tested, the test report shall include the fact that the specimen was
honeycombed.
4.2 Age at Test: Tests shall be made at recognized ages of the test specimens, the most usual
being 7 and 28 days.
4.3 Number of Specimens: At least three specimens shall be tested at each selected age.

5. Procedure
5.1 Preparation and Positioning of Specimens: For specimens stored in water, excess moisture
shall be wiped from the surface of the specimen. The dimensions of the specimens to the nearest
0.2 mm and their weight shall be noted before testing. The time between the extraction of the
specimen from the curing tank, and the testing, shall be as short as possible or not more than 2
hour. During the time the specimen is outside the curing tank, it shall be protected from drying,
may be by covering with wet cloth.

All testing machine bearing surfaces shall be wiped clean and any loose grit or other extraneous
material removed from the surfaces of the specimen that will be in contact with the platens.
Cube specimens shall be compressed perpendicularly to the direction of casting. The specimen
shall be centered on the lower platen to an accuracy of 1 percent of the designated size of cubic,
or diameter of cylindrical specimens.

5.2 Loading: The load shall be applied without shock and shall be increased continuously at a
constant rate of 14 N/mm2/min until no greater load can be sustained. The maximum load
indicated shall be recorded.

5.3 Assessment of Type of Failure: If the failure is satisfactory (see Fig.2 or Fig.4), this fact shall
be recorded. If the failure pattern is unsatisfactory, this fact shall be recorded and the type of
failure recorded using the pattern number in Fig.3 or Fig.5 closest to that observed.

6. Test Result:
The compressive strength is given by the equation:
fc = F / Ac where: fc = compressive strength, in MPa; F = maximum load, in N; and Ac = cross-
sectional area, in mm2, of the specimen on which the compressive force acts.
Average of three values shall be taken as the representative of the batch provided the individual
variation is not more than ± 15 percent of the average. Otherwise repeat test shall be made,
however if there is no further sample, then the average of two closest values may be taken as the
average result.

The actual dimensions of test specimens shall conform to IS:10086. If the actual dimensions are
within the tolerance limits as mentioned in IS:10086, the strength may be calculated on the basis
of designated size. If the actual dimensions are outside this tolerance, the strength calculation
shall be based on the actual dimensions of the test specimen, however, perpendicularity of the
surface of specimens should be maintained as per IS:10086.

The compressive strength shall be expressed to the nearest 0.5 MPa.

7. Test Report
The following information shall be included in the report:

(a) Details of the concrete like grade, mix details, etc, in case of cast specimens; and details of
the structure, like structure type, origin member/structure, in case of cored specimen;
(b) Type of specimen: cast (cube/cylinder) or drilled core;
(c) Size of the specimen, and capping details, if applicable;
(d) Identification mark;
(e) Age of specimen;
(f) Date of test;
(g) Curing conditions;
(h) Weight of specimen;
(j) Dimension of specimen;
(k) Maximum load;
(m) Details of the machine used for testing (manual/automated, loading range, date of
calibration, etc.);
(n) Compressive strength of specimen (to the nearest 0.5 MPa); and
(p) Type of failure (satisfactory or unsatisfactory and, if unsatisfactory, the nearest type).

8. video
 Characteristics Compressive Strength of Concrete

9. Download

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