1) Concrete cylinder test results from a sample project came back low compared to the specified strength requirement.
2) Common reasons for low cylinder strengths include improper handling, curing, and testing of cylinders; adding excess water at the jobsite; high air content in the concrete; and production or delivery issues.
3) If cylinder strengths are low, the test reports should be analyzed for patterns and the lab, sampling, curing, and testing procedures should be verified to have followed standards before further investigation.
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1) Concrete cylinder test results from a sample project came back low compared to the specified strength requirement.
2) Common reasons for low cylinder strengths include improper handling, curing, and testing of cylinders; adding excess water at the jobsite; high air content in the concrete; and production or delivery issues.
3) If cylinder strengths are low, the test reports should be analyzed for patterns and the lab, sampling, curing, and testing procedures should be verified to have followed standards before further investigation.
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CIP 9 - Low Concrete Cylinder Strength
WHAT Constitutes Low Cylinder Strength 100
Cylinders stored in air at indicated
Percent of standard cured strength
temperature followed by standard Strength test results of concrete cylinders are used as moist curing 90 the basis of acceptance of ready mixed concrete when a strength requirement is specified. Cylinders are molded from a sample of fresh concrete, cured in 80 standard conditions and tested at an age indicated in the specification, usually at 28 days. For strength test 70 results to be reliable, procedures must be in 37°F (3°C) 73°F (23°C) accordance with ASTM standards. The average 100°F (38°C) strength of a set of two 6×12 in. (150×300 mm) or 60 three 4×8 in. (100×200 mm) cylinders made from the 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 Initial Curing, days in air same concrete sample constitutes one test result. In some cases cylinders are tested at 7 days to get an Effect of Initial Curing Temperature on Strength early indication of the potential strength, but these ensure structural adequacy of that portion of the test results are not to be used to determine the structure. acceptability of the concrete. Cylinders used for acceptance of concrete should not be confused with WHY are Compressive Tests Low? field-cured cylinders. Tests of field-cured cylinders are used to evaluate whether the in-place concrete has The major reasons for low compressive strength been properly cured and protected, to estimate the tests are: early-age strength in the structure to strip forms or for 1. Improper cylinder handling, curing and testing - post-tensioning, and to continue construction activity. this is typically the reason in most cases; The ACI Building Code, ACI 318, and the 2. The addition of excessive water to the concrete Specification for Structural Concrete, ACI 301, mixture at the jobsite due to delays in placement recognize that when mixtures are proportioned to or requests for a higher slump to facilitate meet the requirements of the standards, strength test placement and finishing; results will fail to comply with acceptance criteria about one time in 100 tests due to normal variability. Acceptance of Concrete on Compressive Strength 4000 psi Specified Strength The strength acceptance criteria used are: Test Individual Cyl. Average Average of a. The average of three consecutive tests equals or No. No. 1 No. 2 (Test) 3 Consecutive exceeds the specified strength, and Acceptable Example b. No single test is lower than the specified strength by more than 500 psi (3.5 MPa) when the specified 1 4110 4260 4185 —— 2 3840 4080 3960 —— strength is less than or equal to 5000 psi (35 MPa), 3 4420 4450 4435 4193 or 4 3670 3820 3745 4047 5 4620 4570 4595 4258 No single test is lower than (0.9 × specified strength) when the specified strength is greater Low Strength Example than 5000 psi (35 MPa) 1 3620 3550 3585 —— An example of these strength acceptance criteria is 2 3970 4060 4015 —— provided in the table. If the strength test results fail 3 4080 4000 4040 3880* 4 4860 4700 4780 4278 either condition (a) or (b), steps must be taken to 5 3390 3110 3250† 4023 increase the strength of the concrete. If the results fail * Average of three consecutive low. condition (b), an investigation should be made to † One test more than 500 psi low. 3. High air content in the concrete (and test personnel qualifications. Laboratories should be specimens); and inspected by the Cement and Concrete Reference 4. Errors in production and unanticipated factors Laboratory (CCRL) laboratory inspection or an during delivery equivalent program. Field testing personnel must When low compressive strength test results are have a current ACI Grade I Field Testing Technician reported: certification, or equivalent. Laboratory personnel 1. Collect all test reports and analyze the results should have the ACI Grade I and II Laboratory before taking action. Labs should not provide Testing Technician and/or the ACI Strength Testing reports of only failing tests. Certification, or equivalent. 2. Look at the pattern and numbers of reported If the deficiency justifies investigation, first verify strength results. testing accuracy and then compare the structural requirements with the measured strength. If testing is x Considering the sequence of results—is there a deficient or if strength is greater than actually needed violation on compliance with the strength in that portion of the structure, there is little point in acceptance criteria discussed above investigating the in-place strength. However, if x The strength range of two or three cylinders procedures conform to the standards and the strength prepared from the same sample should rarely as specified is required for the structural capacity of exceed 8.0% or 9.5% of the strength average, the member in question, further investigation of the in respectively. -place concrete may be required. (CIP 10). x Do the results indicate that the cylinders are being loaded to complete failure HOW to Reduce Low Strength Tests? 3. Do the test reports provide any causal reasons? 1. Ensure that sample of concrete at the jobsite is x Review the dates and times of batching, obtained in accordance with ASTM C172 sampling, pick up from jobsite and delivery to 2. Ensure that the cylinders are made and cured in the lab accordance with the standard curing requirements x Review concrete and ambient temperatures, in ASTM C31. number of days cylinders were left in the field, 3. Ensure that cylinders are handled with care at the procedures used for initial curing in the field, jobsite and during transportation. duration of transportation, and subsequent 4. Ensure the cylinders are tested in the laboratory in curing in the lab accordance with ASTM C39. x Review the slump, air content, and density, if measured References x Review for any reported cylinder defects. 1. ASTM Standards C31, C39, C172, C1077, ASTM Book of It is important that procedures are conducted in Standards, Volume 04.02, American Society for Testing and Materials, West Conshohocken, PA. www.astm.org accordance with ASTM standards. Almost all 2. Specification for Structural Concrete, ACI 301, American Concrete deficiencies in handling and testing cylinders will Institute, Farmington Hills, MI, www.concrete.org result in a lower measured strength. All violations 3. Building Code Requirements for Reinforced Concrete, ACI 318, add up to cause significant reductions in measured American Concrete Institute, Farmington Hills, MI. strength. The more significant factors are 4. In-Place Concrete Strength Evaluation-A Recommended Practice. NRMCA Publication 133, NRMCA, Silver Spring, MD., improperly finished surfaces, initial curing over 80° www.nrmca.org F (27°C); frozen cylinders; extra days in the field; 5. Effect of Curing Condition on Compressive Strength of Concrete Test damage during transportation; delay in stripping Specimens, NRMCA Publication 53, NRMCA Silver Spring, MD. molds and curing at the lab; improper capping; and 6. Review of Variables that Influence Measured Concrete Compressive insufficient care in breaking cylinders. Strength, David N. Richardson, NRMCA Publication 179, NRMCA, Silver Spring, MD. The laboratory should be held responsible for 7. Low Strength Tests? Maybe Not!, E.O. Goeb, Concrete Products, deficiencies in its procedures. Field-testing December 1992. technicians and laboratory personnel should be 8. Why Low Cylinder Tests in Hot Weather? E.O. Goeb, Concrete certified; construction workers untrained in Construction, Jan. 1986. concrete testing must not make and handle 9. CIP 10 – Strength of In-Place Concrete; CIP 34—Making Concrete Cylinders in the Field, CIP Series, NRMCA, Silver Spring, MD. cylinders. ACI 318 requires laboratories to conform to ASTM C1077 for their quality system and 1982, 1989, 2000, 2014