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Concrete Test Results Interpretation Guide

The document discusses the interpretation of concrete test results, noting that: 1) Cube strength (fcu) is the most commonly tested and disputed concrete property, though cubes do not reflect real strength in structures. 2) If cubes fail, cores are drilled from structures and tested according to standards, with corrections applied to estimate original cube strength rather than actual structure strength. 3) Test results are interpreted against specifications, allowing for margins of error, with the goal of accurately assessing concrete quality rather than favoring any party.

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NurHaziqah
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176 views22 pages

Concrete Test Results Interpretation Guide

The document discusses the interpretation of concrete test results, noting that: 1) Cube strength (fcu) is the most commonly tested and disputed concrete property, though cubes do not reflect real strength in structures. 2) If cubes fail, cores are drilled from structures and tested according to standards, with corrections applied to estimate original cube strength rather than actual structure strength. 3) Test results are interpreted against specifications, allowing for margins of error, with the goal of accurately assessing concrete quality rather than favoring any party.

Uploaded by

NurHaziqah
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

INTERPRETATION OF CONCRETE

TEST RESULTS

Presented by:
Your Organisation
Presenter - Bruce Raath PrEng CEng Logo here

Organisation - Letaba Management Services


Responsibility

 Best interests of structure and client


Identification of concrete properties
Proper function of structure
Built by contractor in accordance with
specification given and interpreted by him
Chosen at lowest cost
Quality control testing
Interpretation of results-
Some properties that cause disputes

 Bond between reinforcement and concrete


 Characteristic strength
 Shrinkage limits
 Crack acceptance by type and width
 Surface flatness and hardness
 Elastic modulus
 Durability-
 Should the following choices be made by the
contractor irrespective of tender price?
What cement to use
Type and size of coarse aggregate
Grading of sand (SANS 1083) not adequate
Rate and maximum bleeding
Allowable temperature differential
Material to be used for formwork
Allowable admixtures
Location of distribution steel-
Most Common Property
 Most poorly interpreted property of all
Cube strength of concrete - fcu
Importance of fcu
Compressive or tensile test
Measures bond in IFZ zone
Frequently the only specified property –
much of the contract hinges on it
Contractually – Contractor agrees to provide
concrete with fcu – Client promises to pay -
 Reliability of results
Cube making is often shoddy
Subject to errors in curing and testing
80 % of failures due to poor cube making
Must pass a validity test
No error can increase strength (except
dishonesty)-
 Significance in design and specification
Known as Characteristic strength or specified
strength
Designer uses 45 % after partial safety factors
Is not and was never meant to be the strength of
the concrete in the structure!
Making concrete consistently too high is easier
but is wasteful and the concrete is too brittle too
early -
 Interpretation of cube results
Average of test results should be 1.64 x SD
called a statistical margin
Can be difficult to calculate
SANS 2001 CC1 gives simplified method
Never fail concrete that is up to 3 MPa below
specification if the average is greater than 2
MPa above
Interpretation must be in accordance with
SANS requirements-
What if the Cubes Fail?
 Do not demolish the structure
SANS 2001 CC1 gives four steps
1. Back to design calculations
2. Non destructive testing
Rebound hammer
Ultra sound testing
Usually not conclusive
3. Drill cores -
 Three cores must be drilled and tested in
accordance with SANS 5863
 Interpretation of results in accordance with SANS
10100:Part 2
Question: Why do we drill and test cores
Hint: Not to establish concrete strength in the
structure which is irrelevant (within limits)
Answer: To estimate what the cube strength was
at the time of concrete placement fcu-
 Interpretation of cube/core test results
Cubes are “perfectly” pampered pieces of
concrete that do not reflect poor transporting,
compaction, curing etc.
Core result must be an indication of cube
strength
Core strength is always lower than cube
strength and the actual concrete strength in the
structure is not mentioned anywhere and is
irrelevant (within limits)-
 Code allows three corrections to the measured
core strength
Size
Steel
Compaction
 All corrections are greater than 1 and so increase
the measured strength
Not to favour the contractor
Not to make poor results “look” better
Not to skew the actual strength of the concrete
above what it actually is-
 Interpretation of adjusted core results is
contractually important
If three core strengths are up to 20 % lower on
average than specified strength
Cube strength to be accepted if no single core
strength is 30 % below the specified strength
 This allowance is much less than the 45 %
reduction in cube strength applied by the design
code
 It is the basis for payment to the contractor-
 4. Load test
Clause 15.2.3 of SANS 10100-2
Increase the live load used in the design by
25 %, place it incrementally on the element
for 24 hr and observe what happens
Measure any deflections that occur during
loading and during unloading
If the element regains 75 % of the deflection
then accept the concrete
If it does not regain 75 % of the deflection
repeat the test-
Interpretation of Concrete
Test Results
The End

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