SECTION 405 - CONCRETE

QUALITY, MIXING AND PLACING

405.1 Notations
f'c = specified compressive strength of concrete, MPa
f'cr = required average compressive strength of
concrete used as the basis for selection of concrete
proportions, MPa
fct = average splitting tensile strength of lightweight
aggregate concrete, MPa
s = standard deviation, MPa
ss = sample standard deviation, MPa
405.2 General
405.2.1 Concrete shall be proportioned to provide an
average compressive strength, f’cr as prescribed in Section
405.4.2, as well as satisfy the durability criteria of Section
404. Concrete shall be produced to minimize frequency of
strengths below f'c as prescribed in Section 405.7.3.3. For
concrete designed and constructed in accordance with the Code,
fc′ shall not be less than 17 MPa.
405.2.2 Requirements for f'c shall be based on tests of
cylinders made and tested as prescribed in Section 405.7.3.
405.2.3 Unless otherwise specified, f'c shall be based on 28-
day tests. If other than 28 days, test age for f'c shall be as
indicated in design drawings or specifications.
405.2.4 Where design criteria in Sections 408.7.1,
412.3.4(4), and 422.6.6, provide for use of a splitting
tensile strength value of concrete, laboratory tests shall be
made in accordance with Specification for Lightweight
Aggregates for Structural Concrete (ASTM C 330) to
establish value of fct corresponding to specified values of f'c.
405.2.5 Splitting tensile strength tests shall not be used as a
basis for field acceptance of concrete.
405.2.6 Steel fiber-reinforced concrete shall conform to
ASTM C1116. The minimum fc′ for steel fiber-reinforced
concrete shall conform to 405.2.1.
405.3 Selection of Concrete Proportions
405.3.1Proportions of materials for concrete shall be
established to provide:
1. Workability and consistency to permit concrete to be
worked readily into forms and around reinforcement
under conditions of placement to be employed without
segregation or excessive bleeding.
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2. Resistance to special exposures as required by Section
404.
3. Conformance with strength test requirements of Section
405.7.
405.3.2 Where different materials are to be used for
different portions of proposed work, each combination shall
be evaluated.
405.3.3 Concrete proportions, including water-cementitious
materials ratio, shall be established on the basis of field
experience and/or trial mixtures with materials to be
employed (see Section 405.4), except as permitted in
Section 405.5 or required by Section 404.
405.4 Proportioning on the Basis of Field Experience
and Trial Mixtures, or Both
405.4.1 Sample Standard Deviation
405.4.1.1 Where a concrete production facility has test
records not more than 12 months old, a sample standard
deviation, ss, shall be established. Test records from which a
standard deviation ss, is calculated:
1. Must represent materials, quality control procedures
and conditions similar to those expected, and changes
in materials and proportions within the test records shall
not have been more restricted than those for proposed
work.
2. Must represent concrete produced to meet a specified
strength or strengths f'c within 7 MPa of that specified
for proposed work.
3. Must consist of at least 30 consecutive tests or two
groups of consecutive tests totaling at least 30 tests as
defined in Section 405.7.2.4, except as provided in
Section 405.4.1.2.
405.4.1.2 Where a concrete production facility does not
have test records meeting requirements of Section
405.4.1.1(3), but does have test records not more than 12
months old based on 15 to 29 consecutive tests, a standard
sample deviation ss, shall be established as the product of
the calculated sample standard deviation and the
modification factor of Table 405-1. To be acceptable, test
records shall meet the requirements of Section 405.4.1.1,
Items 1 and 2, and represent only a single record of
consecutive tests that span a period of not less than 45
calendar days.
Table 405-1 Modification Factor for Standard Deviation
When Less Than 30 Tests are Available
Number of Tests 1 Modification Factor for
Standard Deviation2
Less than 15 Use Table 405-2
15 1.16
20 1.08
25 1.03
30 or more 1.00
1 Interpolate for intermediate number of tests.
2 Modified standard deviation to be used to determine required average
strength f'cr from Section 405.4.2.1
405.4.2 Required Average Strength
405.4.2.1 Required average compressive strength f'cr used as
the basis for selection of concrete proportions shall be the
larger of Equation (405-1) or (405-2) using the sample
standard deviation, ss, calculated in accordance with Section
405.4.1.1 or 405.4.1.2.
f'c ≤ 35MPa: f'cr = f'c + 1.34 ss (405-1)
f'cr = f'c + 2.33 ss – 3.5 (405-2)
Use the larger value computed from Eq. 405-1 and 405-2,
or:
f'c >35MPa: f'cr = f'c + 1.34 ss (405-1)
f'cr = 0.90 f'c + 2.33 ss (405-3)
Use the larger value computed from Eq. 405-1 and 405-3.
405.4.2.2 When a concrete production facility does not have
field strength test records for calculation of standard
deviation meeting requirements of Section 405.4.1.1 or
405.4.1.2, required average strength f'cr shall be determined
from Table 405-2 and documentation of average strength
shall be in accordance with requirements of Section 405.4.3.
Table 405-2 Required Average Compressive Strength
When Data are not Available to Establish a Standard
Deviation
Specified Compressive
Strength, f'c, MPa
Required Average Compressive
Strength, f'cr, MPa
Less than 21 MPa f'c + 7.0
21 ≤ f'c ≤ 35 f'c + 8.3
Over 35 1.10f'c + 5.0
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Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines
405.4.3 Documentation of Average Strength.
Documentation that proposed concrete proportions will
produce an average compressive strength equal to or greater
than required average compressive strength (see Section
405.4.2) shall consist of a field strength test record, several
strength test records, or trial mixtures.
405.4.3.1 When test records in accordance with Sections
405.4.1.1 and 405.4.1.2, are used to demonstrate that
proposed concrete proportions will produce the required
average strength f'cr (see Section 405.4.2), such records shall
represent materials and conditions similar to those expected.
Changes in materials, conditions and proportions within the
test records shall not have been more restricted than those
for proposed work. For the purpose of documenting average
strength potential, test records consisting of less than 30 but
not less than 10 consecutive tests may be used, provided test
records encompass a period of time not less than 45 days.
Required concrete proportions may be established by
interpolation between the strengths and proportions of two
or more test records each of which meets other requirements
of this section.
405.4.3.2 When an acceptable record of field test results is
not available, concrete proportions established from trial
mixtures meeting the following restrictions shall be
permitted:
1. Combination of materials shall be those for proposed
work.
2. Trial mixtures having proportions and consistencies
required for proposed work shall be made using at least
three different water-cementitious materials ratios or
cementitious materials contents that will produce a
range of strengths encompassing the required average
strength f'cr, and meet the durability requirements of
Section 404.
3. Trial mixtures shall be designed to produce a slump
within ±20 mm of maximum permitted, and for airentrained
concrete, within ±0.5 percent of maximum
allowable air content, or within the tolerance specified
for the proposed Work.
4. For each water-cementitious materials ratio or
cementitious materials content, at least three test
cylinders for each test age shall be made and cured in
accordance with "Method of Making and Curing
Concrete Test Specimens in the Laboratory" (ASTM C
192). Cylinders shall be tested at 28 days or at test age
designated for determination of f'c.
5. From results of cylinder tests, a curve shall be plotted
showing relationship between water-cementitious
materials ratio or cementitious materials content and
compressive strength at designated test age.
6. Maximum water-cementitious materials ratio or
minimum cementitious materials content for concrete to
be used in proposed work shall be that shown by the
curve to produce the average strength required by
Section 405.4.2, unless a lower water-cementitious
materials ratio or higher strength is required by Section
404.
405.5 Proportioning without Field Experience or Trial
Mixtures
405.5.1 If data required by Section 405.4 are not available,
concrete proportions shall be based upon other experience
or information, if approved by the engineer. The required
average compressive strength f'cr of concrete produced with
materials similar to those proposed for use shall be at least
8.5 MPa greater than the specified compressive strength, f'c.
This alternative shall not be used for specified compressive
strength greater than 35 MPa.
405.5.2 Concrete proportioned by Section 405.5 shall
conform to the durability requirements of Section 404 and to
compressive strength test criteria of Section 405.7.
405.6 Average Strength Reduction
As data become available during construction, it shall be
permitted to reduce the amount by which f'cr must exceed
the specified value of f'c, provided:
1. Thirty or more test results are available and average of
test results exceeds that required by Section 405.4.2.1,
using a sample standard deviation calculated in
accordance with Section 405.4.1.1, or
2. Fifteen to 29 test results are available and average of
test results exceeds that required by Section 405.4.2.1,
using a sample standard deviation calculated in
accordance with Section 405.4.1.2, and
3. Special exposure requirements of Section 404 are met.
405.7 Evaluation and Acceptance of Concrete
405.7.1 Concrete shall be tested in accordance with the
requirements of Section 405.7.2 through 405.7.5. Qualified
field testing technicians shall perform tests on fresh concrete
at the job site, prepare specimens required for curing under
field conditions, prepare specimens required for testing in
the laboratory, and record the temperature of the fresh
concrete when preparing specimens for strength tests.
Qualified laboratory technicians shall perform all required
laboratory tests.
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National Structural Code of the Philippines 6th Edition Volume 1
405.7.2 Frequency of Testing
405.7.2.1 Samples for strength tests of each class of
concrete placed each day shall be taken not less than once a
day, or not less than once for each 120 m3 of concrete, or
not less than once for each 500 m2 of surface area for slabs
or walls.
405.7.2.2 On a given project, if the total volume of concrete
is such that the frequency of testing required by Section
405.7.2.1 would provide less than five strength tests for a
given class of concrete, tests shall be made from at least five
randomly selected batches or from each batch if fewer than
five batches are used.
405.7.2.3 When total quantity of a given class of concrete is
less than 40 m3, strength tests are not required when
evidence of satisfactory strength is submitted to and
approved by the engineer.
405.7.2.4 A strength test shall be the average of the
strengths of two cylinders made from the same sample of
concrete and tested at 28 days or at test age designated for
determination of f'c.
405.7.3 Laboratory-Cured Specimens
405.7.3.1 Samples for strength tests shall be taken in
accordance with "Method of Sampling Freshly Mixed
Concrete" (ASTM C 172).
405.7.3.2 Cylinders for strength tests shall be molded and
laboratory cured in accordance with "Practice for Making
and Curing Concrete Test Specimens in the Field" (ASTM
C 31M) and tested in accordance with "Test Method for
Compressive Strength of Cylindrical Concrete Specimens"
(ASTM C 39M).
405.7.3.3 Strength level of an individual class of concrete
shall be considered satisfactory if both the following
requirements are met:
1. Every arithmetic average of any three consecutive
strength tests (see Section 405.7.2.4) equals or exceeds
f'c ;
2. No individual strength test (average of two cylinders)
falls below f'c by more than 3.5 MPa, when f’c is 35
MPa or less; or by more than 0.10f’c when f’c is more
than 35 MPa.
405.7.3.4 If either of the requirements of Section 405.7.3.3
are not met, steps shall be taken to increase the average of
subsequent strength test results. Requirements of Section
405.7.5 shall be observed if the requirement of Item 2 of
Section 405.7.3.3 is not met.
405.7.4 Field-Cured Specimens
405.7.4.1 If required by the engineer-of-record, results of
strength tests of cylinders cured under field conditions shall
be provided.
405.7.4.2 Field-cured cylinders shall be cured under field
conditions, in accordance with "Practice for Making and
Curing Concrete Test Specimens in the Field" (ASTM C
31M).
405.7.4.3 Field-cured test cylinders shall be molded at the
same time and from the same samples as laboratory-cured
test cylinders.
405.7.4.4 Procedures for protecting and curing concrete
shall be improved when strength of field-cured cylinders at
test age designated for determination of f'c is less than 85
percent of that of companion laboratory-cured cylinders.
The 85 percent limitation shall not apply if field-cured
strength exceeds f'c by more than 3.5 MPa.
405.7.5 Investigation of Low-Strength Test Results
405.7.5.1 If any strength test (see Section 405.7.2.4) of
laboratory-cured cylinders falls below specified values of f'c
by more than 3.5 MPa (see Section 405.7.3.3, Item 2) or if
tests of field-cured cylinders indicate deficiencies in
protection and curing (see Section 405.7.4.4), steps shall be
taken to ensure that load-carrying capacity of the structure is
not jeopardized.
405.7.5.2 If the likelihood of low-strength concrete is
confirmed and calculations indicate that load-carrying
capacity is significantly reduced, tests of cores drilled from
the area in question in accordance with "Method of
Obtaining and Testing Drilled Cores and Sawed Beams of
Concrete" (ASTM C 42M) shall be permitted. In such cases,
three cores shall be taken for each strength test more than
3.5 MPa below specified value of f'c.
405.7.5.3 If concrete in the structure will be dry under
service conditions, cores shall be air dried (temperatures
15ºC to 25ºC, relative humidity less than 60 percent) for
seven days before test and shall be tested dry. If concrete in
the structure will be more than superficially wet under
service conditions, cores shall be immersed in water for at
least 40 hours and be tested wet.
405.7.5.4 Concrete in an area represented by core tests shall
be considered structurally adequate if the average of three
cores is equal to at least 85 percent of f'c and if no single
core is less than 75 percent of f'c. Additional testing of cores
extracted from locations represented by erratic core strength
results shall be permitted.
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Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines
405.7.5.5 If criteria of Section 405.7.5.4 are not met, and if
structural adequacy remains in doubt, the engineer of record
shall be permitted to order a strength evaluation in
accordance with Section 420 for the questionable portion of
the structure, or take other appropriate action.
405.7.6 Steel Fiber-Reinforced Concrete
405.7.6.1 Acceptance of steel fiber-reinforced concrete used
in beams in accordance with 411.6.6.1(6) shall be
determined by testing in accordance with ASTM C1609. In
addition, strength testing shall be in accordance with
405.7.1.
405.7.6.2 Steel fiber-reinforced concrete shall be considered
acceptable for shear resistance if conditions (1), (2), and (3)
are satisfied:
1. The weight of deformed steel fibers per cubic meter of
concrete is greater than or equal to 60 kg.
2. The residual strength obtained from flexural testing
in accordance with ASTM C1609 at a mid-span
deflection of 1/300 of the span length is greater than or
equal to 90 percent of the measured first-peak strength
obtained from a flexural test or 90 percent of the
strength corresponding to fr from Eq. (409-10),
whichever is larger; and
3. The residual strength obtained from flexural testing in
accordance with ASTM C1609 at a mid-span deflection
of 1/150 of the span length is greater than or equal to 75
percent of the measured first-peak strength obtained
from a flexural test or 75 percent of the strength
corresponding to fr from Eq. (409-10), whichever is
larger.
405.8 Preparation of Equipment and Place of Deposit
405.8.1 Preparation before concrete placement shall include
the following:
1. All equipment for mixing and transporting concrete
shall be clean;
2. All debris shall be removed from spaces to be occupied
by concrete;
3. Forms shall be properly coated;
4. Masonry filler units that will be in contact with
concrete shall be well drenched;
5. Reinforcement shall be thoroughly clean of deleterious
coatings;
6. Water shall be removed from place of deposit before
concrete is placed unless a tremie is to be used or unless
otherwise permitted by the engineer;
7. All laitance and other unsound material shall be
removed before additional concrete is placed against
hardened concrete.
405.9 Mixing
405.9.1 All concrete shall be mixed until there is a uniform
distribution of materials and shall be discharged completely
before mixer is recharged.
405.9.2 Ready-mixed concrete shall be mixed and delivered
in accordance with requirements of "Specifications for
Ready-Mixed Concrete" (ASTM C 94M) or "Specifications
for Concrete Made by Volumetric Batching and Continuous
Mixing" (ASTM C 685M).
405.9.3 Job-mixed concrete shall be mixed in accordance
with the following:
1. Mixing shall be done in a batch mixer of an approved
type;
2. Mixer shall be rotated at a speed recommended by the
manufacturer;
3. Mixing shall be continued for at least 1-1/2 minutes
4. After all materials are in the drum, unless a shorter time
is shown to be satisfactory by the mixing uniformity
tests of "Specifications for Ready-Mixed Concrete"
(ASTM C 94M);
5. Materials handling, batching and mixing shall conform
to applicable provisions of "Specifications for Ready-
Mixed Concrete" (ASTM C 94M);
6. A detailed record shall be kept to identify:
a. Number of batches produced;
b. Proportions of materials used;
c. Approximate location of final deposit in structure;
d. Time and date of mixing and placing.
405.10 Conveying
405.10.1 Concrete shall be conveyed from mixer to place of
final deposit by methods that will prevent separation or loss
of materials.
405.10.2 Conveying equipment shall be capable of
providing a supply of concrete at site of placement without
separation of ingredients and without interruptions sufficient
to permit loss of plasticity between successive increments.
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National Structural Code of the Philippines 6th Edition Volume 1
405.11 Depositing
405.11.1 Concrete shall be deposited as nearly as
practicable in its final position to avoid segregation due to
re-handling or flowing.
405.11.2 Concreting shall be carried on at such a rate that
concrete is at all times plastic and flows readily into spaces
between reinforcement.
405.11.3 Concrete that has partially hardened or been
contaminated by foreign materials shall not be deposited in
the structure.
405.11.4 Re-tempered concrete or concrete that has been remixed
after initial set shall not be used unless approved by
the engineer-of-record.
405.11.5 After concreting is started, it shall be carried on as
a continuous operation until placing of a panel or section, as
defined by its boundaries or predetermined joints, is
completed, except as permitted or prohibited by Section
406.4.
405.11.6 Top surfaces of vertically formed lifts shall be
generally level.
405.11.7 When construction joints are required, joints shall
be made in accordance with Section 406.4.
405.11.8 All concrete shall be thoroughly consolidated by
suitable means during placement and shall be thoroughly
worked around reinforcement and embedded fixtures and
into corners of forms.
405.12 Curing
405.12.1 Concrete (other than high-early-strength) shall be
maintained above 10ºC and in a moist condition for at least
the first seven days after placement, except when cured in
accordance with Section 405.12.3.
405.12.2 High-early-strength concrete shall be maintained
above 10ºC and in a moist condition for at least the first
three days, except when cured in accordance with Section
405.12.3.
405.12.3 Accelerated Curing
405.12.3.1 Curing by high-pressure steam, steam at
atmospheric pressure, heat and moisture or other accepted
processes, may be employed to accelerate strength gain and
reduce time of curing.
405.12.3.2 Accelerated curing shall provide a compressive
strength of concrete at the load stage considered at least
equal to required design strength at that load stage.
405.12.3.3 Curing process shall be such as to produce
concrete with a durability at least equivalent to the curing
method of Section 405.12.1 or 405.12.2.
405.12.4 When required by the engineer, supplementary
strength tests in accordance with Section 405.7.4 shall be
performed to assure that curing is satisfactory.
405.13 Hot Weather Requirements
During hot weather, proper attention shall be given to
ingredients, production methods, handling, placing,
protection and curing to prevent excessive concrete
temperatures or water evaporation that may impair required