1. Cube Test for hardened concrete
โข To determine the compressive strength of concrete Procedure
โข Test should be confirm to British standards Part 116-1881
โข Cube mould size should be as per standards 150cmx150cmx150cm+-
0.15mm or 100cmx100cmx100cm+-0.15mm
โข Sample should be collect as per BS Part 101-1881 as discussed in
Workability Test
โข Preparation of cube from fresh concrete shall be confirm to BS 1881 Part
108
โข Samples to be filled in 3 equal layers with 35 blows to each layer
โข Storage & curing of samples should be Confirm to BS Part 111-1881
โข Sample if need store at site with damping material at 90% to 95% humidity
2. ๏งArea of storage should be free of vibrations
๏งAfter 24 hrs the samples demolds and shift to curing water tank
๏งThe temperature of the room and water should be 20c+-2 as per
BS Part 111-1881
๏งWater should be change once in a month
๏งSamples could be test at 3/7/14/28 days intervals
๏งPrior to compressive test the samples will be collect from water
and the surface will be cleaned
3. ๏งCheck if there is any fins
๏งCheck the density of samples by immersing in water with a hook as per BS
Part 114-1881
๏งCheck those dimensions of each specimen that will be horizontal when it is
tested. If any dimension is not within 1 % of the nominal value, determine
its average value in accordance with 6.2.2 of BS 1881-114:1983.
๏งIf deviation in size is within 1% no need to determine as above
4. โข Procedure for Determination of Density Following BS 1881-114:
โข British Standard describes the methods for determining
the density of hardened concrete in the following
conditions:
โข a) as-received in the laboratory (see clause 8);
โข b) saturated (see clause 9);
โข c) oven-dried (see clause 10)
โข Density= Mass/Volume
5. โข m1 = the mass of the as-received specimen in air (in kg); or
โข m2 = the mass of the saturated specimen in air (in kg); or
โข m3 = the mass of the oven-dried specimen in air (in kg);
โข V can be = the volume of the specimen calculated from its average dimensions as
per clause 6.2.1 & 6.2.2 Cylindrical cored specimens (in m3 );
โข V2 can be= the volume of the specimen calculated as per clause 6.2.3 Certified
moulded specimens ( in m3 )
โข V3 = the volume of the specimen determined by the displacement of water (in m3
).
โข The volume of the specimen shall be not less than 40 d3 , where d is the nominal
maximum size of the aggregate
โข Determination of the volume by water displacement is preferred Refer Clause.7 Next Page
6. Clause:7 General Details for Procedure of determination of the volume by water
displacement:
โข The water displacement method is not applicable to specimens
of no-fines concrete with large pores
โข Balance, equipped with a stirrup for weighing the specimen in
both air and water to an accuracy of 0.1 % of the mass
โข Place the specimen on the stirrup and fully immerse it in water in
the tank
โข air bubbles will be avoided on the surfaces of the specimen
7. โข Correct for the apparent mass of the empty stirrup when
weighed immersed in water to the same depth as when
holding the specimen, make it zero at balance equipment
for measurement of weight.
โข Immediately remove the specimen from the stirrup, and
after wiping off surplus water from the surfaces using a
moist cloth, weigh in air and record its mass ma (in kg)
โข Taking the density of water as 1000 kg/m3 , calculate the
volume V3 of the specimen (in m3 ) from the following
formula:
V3= ma-mw/1000
8. โข a) Clause:8 Procedure for determination of as-received density by Water
Displacement Method
โข This applies to specimens cut from a structure and tested on
arrival which have not been cured in water to a saturated
state
โข Weigh the specimen as-received in air and record its mass
m1
โข Determine the volume V3 (in m3 ) by the water displacement
method, in accordance with clause 7.
Calculate the as received Density by the Following Formula
Density=m1/v3
9. b) Clause 9: Procedure for determination of saturated density by Water
Displacement method:
โข Fully immerse the specimen in water at 20 ยฑ 2 ยฐC until constant
mass is achieved as shown by two measurements, 24 h apart
โข Determine the volume V3 (in m3 ) by the water displacement
method, in accordance with clause 7.
โข Wipe off surplus water from the surface using a moist cloth.
Record the constant mass m2 (in kg).
Calculate the Saturated Density by given formula:
Density=m2/v3
10. c) Clause 10: Procedure for determination of oven dry density by Water
Displacement method:
โข Place the specimen in the ventilated oven (4.4) and dry it at 105
ยฑ 5 ยฐC until constant mass is achieved as shown by two
measurements, 24 h apart, giving a difference of less than 0.2 %
in the mass of the dry specimen
โข Before each weighing, cool the specimen to near room
temperature
โข Record the constant mass m3 (in kg).
โข determine the volume V3 (in m3 ) by the water displacement
method in accordance with clause 7, promptly as immersed in
water.
11.
12. โข Determination of Compressive Strength:
โข Compressive test machine should be confirm to BS Part 115-1881
โข Immerse in water, for minimum of 5 min, those cubes which have not been cured
in water or where the surfaces have been allowed to dry
โข Remove the cubes from the curing or density water tank and test while they are
still wet
โข Load should be applied to opposite corners of the cube @ 2 kg to 4
kg/cm2/second.
โข Check the crushing load of machine and divide this load by area specimen
โข Standard deviation in cubes must not exceed 15%
โข The standard deviation of a set of numbers tells us about how different the
individual readings typically are from the average of the set
โข Load should be applied to two opposite edges of cube
13. Sample Number Crushing Strength (x)MPa Average Strengthฮผ=โx/n Deviation(x-ฮผ) Square of Deviation(x-ฮผ)2
1 43
40.2
+2.8 7.84
2 48 +7.8 60.84
3 40 -0.2 0.04
4 38 -2.2 4.84
5 36 -4.2 16.64
6 39 -1.2 1.44
7 42 +1.8 3.24
8 45 +4.8 23.04
9 37 -3.2 10.24
10 35 -5.2 27.04
11 39 -1.2 1.44
12 41 +0.8 0.64
13 49 +8.8 77.44
14 46 +5.8 33.64
15 36 -4.2 16.64
16 38 -2.2 4.84
17 32 -8.2 67.24
18 39 -1.2 1.44
19 41 +0.8 0.64
20 40 -0.2 0.04
Total=804 Total=359.20
EXAMPLE OF CALCULATION OF STANDARD
DEVIATION FOR A SET OF 20 CONCRETE CUBE TEST
RESULTS
14. โข Average Strength, ฮผ = 804/20 = 40.2 MPa
โข Standard deviation = โ[359.2/ (n-1)] = โ(359.2/19) =
4.34 MPa
โข Where, n = Total number of samples
โข Coefficient of Variation = (Standard deviation/Average
strength)*100
โข = (4.34/40.2)*100
โข = 10.80%<15% ok