Lecture No.

23 & 24
Subject: Properties of Hardened Concrete - Strength Objectives of Lecture:
o e!p"ain t#e stren$t# properties of #ardened concrete: Co%pressive stren$t# ensi"e stren$t# S#ear stren$t# &ond stren$t# '%pact stren$t# (ati$ue stren$t#

'ntroduction
Stren$t# of #ardened concrete is its %ost i%portant propert). Ho*ever+ for a$$ressive e!posure conditions+ durabi"it)+ vo"u%e stabi"it)+ and i%per%eabi"it) %a) be e,ua"") i%portant

#e $enera" assu%ption is t#at an i%prove%ent in concrete stren$t# *i"" i%prove its ot#er properties as *e""+ except many important exceptions+ for e!a%p"e+ an increase in ce%ent content t#at %a) be intended to increase t#e stren$t# %a) a"so increase t#e a%ounts of s#rin-a$e and creep

Stren$t# properties of #ardened concrete are brief") e!p"ained+ as fo""o*s:

.. Co%pressive Stren$t#
Importance Co%pressive stren$t# of concrete is its inde!in$ propert) as concrete #as its %a!i%u% stren$t# a$ainst co%pression 'n reinforced concrete structures+ concrete is %ain") used to resist t#e co%pression Concrete is c"assified into different $rades on t#e basis of its 2/-da)s co%pressive stren$t# #e 2/-da)s co%pressive stren$t# re,uire%ent for%s t#e basic and %ain bac-$round for desi$nin$ t#e concrete %i!es
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Factors affecting strength of concrete 0i1 2ater3ce%ent ratio and de$ree of co%paction: Since concrete is a britt"e %ateria"+ its porosit) pri%ari") $overns its stren$t#. 4s s#o*n in t#e fo""o*in$ (i$.+ t#e co%pressive stren$t# is found to be severe") decreasin$ *it# increase in t#e porosit)

#e porosit) of concrete *#ic# $overns t#e stren$t# of concrete is affected b) t#e $e"3space ratio in concrete
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#e $e"3space ratio is t#e ratio of t#e so"id products of #)dration to t#e space avai"ab"e for t#ese #)dration products. 4 #i$#er $e"3space ratio reduces t#e porosit) and t#erefore increases t#e stren$t# of concrete as s#o*n in t#e fo""o*in$ (i$.

#e $e"3space ratio+ *#ic# $overns t#e porosit) of concrete affectin$ its stren$t#+ is affected b) t#e *ater3ce%ent ratio of concrete.
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 4 #i$#er *ater3ce%ent ratio decreases t#e $e"3space ratio increasin$ t#e porosit) t#ereb) decreasin$ t#e stren$t# of concrete+ as s#o*n in t#e fo""o*in$ (i$.:

Abrams law states t#at 5assu%in$ fu"" co%paction+ and at a $iven a$e and nor%a" te%perature+ stren$t# of concrete can be ta-en to be inverse") proportiona" to t#e *ater3ce%ent ratio6 4s s#o*n in t#e above (i$.+ de$ree of co%paction a"so affects t#e stren$t# si$nificant")
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0ii1 4$e: 2it# an increase in a$e+ t#e de$ree of #)dration $enera"") increases increasin$ t#e $e"3space ratio so t#at stren$t# increases 'ncrease in t#e stren$t# of concrete 0at sa%e *3c ratio1 *it# increase in ear") a$e 0fro% . to 2/ da)s1 of concrete #as been s#o*n in t#e fo""o*in$ (i$.

#e above (i$. %a) be used to e!trapo"ate 2/-da) stren$t#s fro% 7-da) or ot#er stren$t#s 4s a $enera" ru"e t#e ratio of 2/-da) to 7-da) stren$t#s "ies bet*een ..3 and ..7 and $enera"") is "ess t#an ..8
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#e stren$t#s be)ond 2/ da)s a$e and up to . )ear are presented in t#e fo""o*in$ ab"e

0iii1 Co%bined effect of a$e and te%perature+ i.e. maturity: Since #)dration of ce%ent is function of bot# t#e ti%e and t#e te%perature of #)dration+ so t#e $ain in stren$t# of concrete is a"so joint") affected b) t#ese t*o factors #e concept of 5%aturit)6 is used to e!p"ain t#e co%bined effect of a$e and te%perature on t#e stren$t# of concrete Maturity is defined as so%e function of t#e product of curin$ ti%e+ at+ and curin$ te%perature+ + as fo""o*s: 9aturit) 0:C ; da)s1 < = at 0 > .?1 2#ere at is curin$ ti%e in da)s and is t#e curin$ te%perature in :C
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#e increase in t#e stren$t# *it# increase in %aturit) #as been s#o*n in t#e fo""o*in$ (i$ures

0iv1 @ffect of ce%ent #e effect of Port"and ce%ent on concrete stren$t# depends on t#e c#e%ica" co%position and fineness of t#e ce%ent. Ce%ent content a"so affects t#e stren$t# of concrete Ce%ents #avin$ #i$#er C3S contents $ain stren$t# %ore rapid")+ but %a) end up *it# s"i$#t") "o*er stren$t#s at "ater a$es

 Since t#e fineness of ce%ent affects t#e rate of #)dration it a"so $overns t#e stren$t# of concrete as s#o*n in t#e above (i$. #e effect of ce%ent content on stren$t# of concrete at a constant s"u%p #as been s#o*n in t#e fo""o*in$ (i$.

0v1 @ffect of a$$re$ate3ce%ent ratio 't #as been found t#at+ for a constant *ater3ce%ent ratio+ a "eaner %i! 0#avin$ %ore a$$re$ate and "ess ce%ent1 "eads to a #i$#er stren$t#+ as s#o*n in t#e fo""o*in$ (i$.
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#is is due to a fact t#at if t#e paste represents a s%a""er proportion of t#e vo"u%e of concrete 0as is t#e case in a "eaner %i!1+ t#en t#e tota" porosit) of t#e concrete is "o*er+ and #ence its stren$t# is #i$#er 0vi1 @ffect of a$$re$ate properties #e inf"uence of t#e a$$re$ate properties on stren$t# is of secondar) i%portance #e a$$re$ate para%eters t#at are %ost i%portant are t#e s#ape and te!ture and t#e %a!i%u% siAe of t#e a$$re$ate 0vii1 @ffect of ad%i!tures 4n) ad%i!ture *#ic# can reduce t#e *3c ratio or t#e porosit) of t#e concrete increases t#e stren$t# of concrete
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Tests for compressive strength 0i1 C)"inder test C)"inder test deve"oped b) t#e 4S 9 is ver) popu"ar") used in BS4 for deter%inin$ co%pressive stren$t# of concrete in t#e "ab #e test c)"inder #as a dia%eter of .8? %% 0C in.1 and "en$t# as 3??%% 0.2 in.1 to %atc# *it# l ! ratio of 2:. #e speci%ens are prepared and tested as per t#e 4S 9 specifications+ as fo""o*s: o 9o"ds 04S 9 C47?1 o 9o"din$ t#e speci%ens 04S 9 C3.1 o Curin$ 04S 9 C.D21 o Cappin$ t#e c)"inders 04S 9 CC.71 o Eeter%ination of co%pressive stren$t# 04S 9 C3D1 0ii1 Cube test Cube test deve"oped b) t#e &S is ver) popu"ar") used in BF for deter%inin$

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co%pressive stren$t# of concrete in t#e "ab #e test cube #as a siAe of .8? %% 0C in.1 &S 0&ritis# Standards1 .//.: Part .?/: .D/3 prescribes fi""in$ t#e %o"d in "a)ers 4"" t#e treat%ents of t#e test cube after castin$ and before testin$ are covered b) &S .//.: Part ...: .D/3 estin$ of t#e prepared concrete cubes is covered b) &S .//.: Part ..C: .D/3 't is to be noted t#at t#e cube is tested at ri$#t an$"es to t#e position at cast+ t#erefore+ e"i%inatin$ t#e need for cappin$ or $rindin$ because t#e bearin$ faces are sufficient") p"ane

0iii1 Core test Core test is co%%on") used to deter%ine t#e co%pressive stren$t# of concrete in t#e actua" structure

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 C)"indrica" cores of sufficient "en$t# and dia%eter are cut fro% t#e structure usin$ a corin$ %ac#ine #ese cores are t#en used for deter%inin$ t#e co%pressive stren$t# of concrete in t#e "aborator) #e %et#ods for deter%inin$ t#e co%pressive stren$t# of cores are prescribed b) &S .//.: Part .2?: .D/3 and b) 4S 9 C 42+ bot# are essentia"") si%i"ar #e !iameter of t#e core shoul! not be less than " times the maximum si#e of aggregate. #e length of t#e core s#ou"d be between $ an! % times t#e !iameter 4fter deter%inin$ t#e avera$e stren$t# 0fcore1 of t#e %oist cores+ t#e esti%ated actua" cube stren$t# 0fcube1 is obtained fro% t#e fo""o*in$ e,uation: 0fcube1 < 0E ; fcore1 3 0..8 > .3G1 *#ere E < 2.8 for cores dri""ed #oriAonta"") < 2.3 for cores dri""ed vertica"")

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G < finis#ed "en$t#3dia%eter ratio of t#e core

0iv1 Sc#%idt #a%%er test 04S 9 C /?8-/8 and &S .//.: Part 2?2:.D/C1 #is test is a"so -no*n as t#e reboun! hammer+ impact hammer or sclerometer test+ and is a non&!estructive metho! of testin$ t#e concrete to deter%ine its in& situ compressive strength #e fo""o*in$ (i$. s#o*s t#e detai" of rebound #a%%er. 4s s#o*n in t#e (i$.+ t#e p"un$er is pressed a$ainst t#e concrete surface so as to re"ease t#e re"ease t#e %ass to #it t#e surface and rebound bac-. 4fter rebound t#e reboun! number is noted. Suc# .? to .2 readin$s are ta-en over t#e area to be tested

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 On t#e basis of t#e avera$e reboun! number t#e co%pressive stren$t# of concrete is t#en deter%ined usin$ t#e c#art s#o*n in t#e fo""o*in$ (i$.

0iv1 Pu""-out test 04S 9 C D??-/71 #is %et#od %easures t#e force re,uired to pu"" out a previously cast-in stee" rod *it# an e%bedded en"ar$ed end+ as s#o*n in t#e fo""o*in$ (i$.:

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 4fter deter%inin$ t#e pu""-out force t#e co%pressive stren$t# of concrete %a) be deter%ined usin$ t#e c#art as s#o*n in t#e fo""o*in$ (i$.:

0v1 B"trasonic pu"se ve"ocit) test 04S 9 C 8D7-/3 and &S .//.: Part 2?3.D/C1
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#is is a non-destructive test %et#od to deter%ine t#e co%pressive stren$t# of concrete 't consists of measuring the pulse velocity t#rou$# t#e concrete to be tested+ usin$ t#e arran$e%ent s#o*n in t#e fo""o*in$ (i$.H

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 4fter %easurin$ t#e pu"se ve"ocit) t#e co%pressive stren$t# of concrete can be deter%ined usin$ t#e c#art as s#o*n in t#e fo""o*in$ (i$.:

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Factors affecting the laboratory measure! compressive strength 0i1 Stress distribution in speci%ens 0 #e inf"uence of p"aten restraint1 #e co%pression test assu%es a state of pure+ unia!ia" co%pression. Ho*ever+ t#is is not rea"") t#e case because of t#e friction force bet*een t#e ends of t#e speci%ens and t#e p"atens #is friction force is induce b) t#e restraint of t#e concrete at ends b) t#e p"atens+ because of t#e fact t#at t#e concrete+ #avin$ PoissonIs ratio severa" ti%es %ore t#an t#e stee" p"atens+ tries to "atera"") e!pand for fai"in$ under t#e app"ied "oad but restrained b) t#e stee" p"atens *#ic# #as "esser tendenc) to "atera"") e!pand under t#e sa%e "oad Eue to t#e above reason t#e measure! compressive strength of concrete is
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found to be higher than the true co%pressive stren$t# #e p"aten effect on co%pressive stren$t# can be reduced b) increasin$ t#e #ei$#t3*idt# ratio of t#e speci%ens #is is because+ *it# increase in #ei$#t t#e centra" part *i"" be bi$$er and %a) fai" b) "atera" sp"ittin$ #e c)"inder test speci%ens *it# #ei$#t3dia%eter ratio as 2 is ta-en as standard for 5ne$"i$ib"e p"aten effect6 (o""o*in$ (i$. s#o*s #o* t#e %easured stren$t# increases 0i.e. t#e p"aten effect beco%es si$nificant1 *it# decrease in t#e #ei$#t3dia%eter ratio be"o* 2

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 (or t#e sa%e concrete+ t#e %easured stren$t# of cube speci%ens 0#ei$#t3*idt# ratio <.1 is about ..28 ti%es t#at of t#e standard c)"inder stren$t#+ as can be seen in t#e above (i$. #e fo""o*in$ fi$ures s#o* t#e t)pica" fai"ure %odes of cube and c)"inder speci%ens under co%pression

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0ii1 @ffect of t#e speci%en siAe &ot# t#e stren$t# and variabi"it) in stren$t# decrease as t#e speci%en siAe increase 0iii1 @ffect of t#e rate of "oadin$ #e #i$#er t#e rate of "oadin$+ t#e #i$#er t#e %easured stren$t# of concrete 0iv1 @ffect of t#e %oisture content 9oist concrete $ives "esser-%easured stren$t# t#an t#e dried concrete 0v1 @ffect of t#e te%perature at testin$ 4t #i$#er testin$ te%perature t#e %easured stren$t# of concrete is "o*er

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2. ensi"e Stren$t#
#e tensi"e stren$t# of concrete is much lower t#an t#e co%pressive stren$t#+ "ar$e") because of t#e ease *it# *#ic# crac-s can propa$ate under tensi"e "oads #e tensi"e stren$t# of concrete is %easured in t#ree *a)s: !irect tension' splitting tension' an! flexural tension ensi"e stren$t# of t#e sa%e concrete tested in: (irect tension ) splitting tension ) flexural tension 't is difficu"t to test concrete in direct 0unia!ia"1 tension because of t#e prob"e% of $rippin$ t#e speci%en
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satisfactori") and because t#ere %ust be no eccentricit) of t#e app"ied "oad #erefore+ direct tensi"e test is not standardiAed and rare") used 9odu"us of rupture test and sp"ittin$ test are co%%on") used to deter%ine t#e tensi"e stren$t# of concrete #e %odu"us of rupture test %a-es use of a bea% speci%en subjected to concentrated "oads so as to cause fai"ure of t#e speci%en in f"e!ure+ as s#o*n in t#e fo""o*in$ (i$.:

4ccordin$ to t#e &S .//.: Part ../: .D/3 t#e preferred siAe of bea% is .8? ; .8? ; 78? %% 0C ; C ; 3? in.1 for %a!i%u% siAe of a$$re$ate "ar$er t#an 28 %%+ and for t#e %a!i%u% siAe of a$$re$ate s%a""er t#an 28 %% t#e
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reco%%ended siAe of t#e bea% is .?? ; .?? ; 8?? %% 04 ; 4 ; 2? in.1 4S 9 C7/-/4 prescribes a bea% siAe of .82 ; .82 ; 8?/ %% 0C ; C ; 2? in.1 #e %odu"us of rupture 0fbt1 is ca"cu"ated usin$ t#e fo""o*in$ for%u"a: fbt < 0P L130bd21 2#ere P < %a!i%u% tota" "oad app"ied L < span "en$t# b < *idt# of t#e bea% d < dept# of t#e bea% Note: #e above for%u"a is va"id on") if t#e fracture in t#e tension surface is *it#in t#e %idd"e t#ird of t#e span "en$t#. 'f t#e fracture is outside b) not %ore t#an 8J of t#e span "en$t#+ a %odified for%u"a is used: fbt < 03Pa130bd21 where a is e,ua" to t#e avera$e distance bet*een t#e "ine of fracture and t#e nearest support %easured on t#e tension surface of t#e bea% when t#e fracture is outside b) %ore t#an 8J of t#e span "en$t# + t#e resu"ts of t#e test are rejected #e sp"ittin$ test 0covered b) 4S 9 C4DC-D? and &S .//.: Part ..7: .D/31
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%a-es use of eit#er t#e c)"inder or cube or pris% speci%en subjected to a "oad to cause sp"ittin$ of t#e speci%en+ as s#o*n in t#e fo""o*in$ (i$.:

#e tensi"e sp"ittin$ stren$t# 0fst* is ca"cu"ated usin$ t#e fo""o*in$ for%u"a: fst < 02P130KLd1 *#ere P < %a!i%u% "oad app"ied L < "en$t# d < dia or *idt# of t#e speci%en
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+elationship between tensile an! compressive strengths of concrete Le"ations#ip bet*een tensi"e and co%pressive stren$t#s of concrete #as been s#o*n in t#e fo""o*in$ (i$.H

4 nu%ber of e%pirica" for%u"ae #ave been deve"oped t#at re"ate t#e f"e!ura" tensi"e
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stren$t# 0ft1 and co%pressive stren$t# 0fc1 of concrete. Ho*ever+ t#e e!pression used b) 4C' is of t#e interest: ft < ?.C2 0 fc1.32 < 7.8? 0 fc1.32 09Pa+ i.e. N3%%21 0psi+ i.e. "b3in21

3. S#ear Stren$t#
S#ear stren$t# of concrete is ta-en appro!i%ate") e,ua" to 2? J its co%pressive stren$t#

4. &ond Stren$t#
#e stren$t# of bond bet*een stee" reinforce%ent and concrete is ca""ed as bond stren$t# of concrete &ond stren$t# deve"ops pri%ari") due to friction and ad#esion bet*een stee" reinforce%ent and concrete 'n $enera"+ bond stren$t# is appro!i%ate") proportiona" to t#e co%pressive stren$t# of concrete up to about 2? 9Pa 03??? psi1

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 (or #i$#er co%pressive stren$t#s of concrete+ t#e increase in bond stren$t# beco%es pro$ressive") s%a""er and eventua"") ne$"i$ib"e+ as s#o*n in t#e above (i$.:

8. '%pact Stren$t#
'%pact stren$t# of concrete is of i%portance in drivin$ concrete pi"es+ in foundations for %ac#ines e!ertin$ i%pu"sive "oadin$+ and a"so *#en accidenta" i%pact is possib"e+ e.$. *#en #and"in$ precast concrete %e%bers #ere is no uni,ue re"ation bet*een i%pact stren$t# and ot#er stren$t#s of concrete. Ho*ever+ so%e researc#ers #ave found t#at i%pact is re"ated to t#e co%pressive stren$t#+ and it #as been su$$ested t#at t#e impact strength varies
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from ,-., to ,-/. of the compressive cube strength #e fo""o*in$ (i$. s#o*s t#e re"ation bet*een i%pact stren$t# 0represente! by the number of blows that concrete can withstan! till there is no reboun! of the impacting !evice1 and co%pressive stren$t#

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 (ro% t#e above fi$ure it is c"ear t#at t#e re"ation bet*een i%pact stren$t# and co%pressive stren$t# depends upon t#e t)pe of coarse a$$re$ate but t#e re"ation depends a"so on t#e stora$e condition of concrete. 't is found t#at t#e i%pact stren$t# of *ater-stored concrete is "o*er t#an *#en t#e concrete is dr) C. (ati$ue Stren$t# #e stren$t# of concrete a$ainst c)c"ic or repeated "oadin$ is ca""ed as its fati$ue stren$t#

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