Quality Control Of Construction Testing Of Concrete

Cubes
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March 13, 2012

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By Kaushal Kishore
Materials Engineer, Roorkee

The acceptance criteria of quality of concrete is laid down in IS:456-2000. The criteria is
mandatory and various provisions of the code have to be complied before the quality of
concrete is accepted. In all the cases, the 28-days compressive strength shall alone be
the criterion for acceptance or rejection of the concrete. In order to get a relatively quicker
idea of the quality of concrete, optional test for 7 days compressive strength of concrete
be carried out.

6 Cubes of 150 x 150 x 150 mm size (the nominal size of aggregate does not exceed 38
mm) shall be cast, 3 for 7-days testing and 3 for 28-days testing. A set of
3 cubes (specimen) average strength will be a sample. The individual variation of a set of
3 cubes should not be more than ± 15% of the average. If more, the test result of the
sample is invalid.

Note:- For aggregates larger than 38 mm, bigger than 150 mm moulds are to be used.
See IS:10086-1982

CUBE MOULD:
The cube moulds of required size (150 mm for nominal size of aggregate not exceeding
38 mm) shall be made in such a manner as to facilitate their separation into two parts.
Cube moulds shall be provided with a base plate and they shall be as per IS:10086-1982.
The dimensions, tolerance and materials of cube moulds shall be as given in table-1.

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Table-1: Dimension, tolerance and materials of 150 mm cube mould.

S.No. Description Requirements

1 Distance between opposite faces, mm 150 ± 0.2

2 Height of mould, mm 150 ± 0.2

3 Thickness of wall plate, mm 8

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 4 Angle between adjacent interior faces and between interior 90 ± 0.50
faces and top and bottom plates of mould.

5 Length of base plate, mm 280

6 Width of base plate, mm 215

7 Thickness of base plate, mm 8

8 Permissible variation in the planeness of interior faces: 0.03

for new moulds, mm
0.05
for moulds in use, mm

9 Permissible variation in the planeness of base plate, mm 0.03

10 materials Cast iron

a) Side plate
b) Base plate Cast iron

TAMPING ROD
As per IS:10086-1982, the tamping rod shall be 16±0.5 mm dia and 600±2 mm long with
a rounded working end and shall be made of mild steel.

COMPRESSION TESTING MACHINE:

The compression testing machine shall be as per IS:14858-2000. The machine shall be
capable of applying the load at the specified rate, uniformly without shock using manual
or automatic control. The percentage of error shall not exceed ±1.0 percent of the
indicated load.

On regular basis the machine should be calibrated with in a period not exceeding 12
months from previous verification. The machine is required to be calibrated on original
installation or relocation, subject to major repairs or adjustment and whenever there is
reason to doubt the accuracy of the results, without regard to the time interval since the
last verification.

The accuracy of the testing machine shall be verified by applying five test loads in four
approximately equal increaments in ascending order. The difference between any two
successive loads shall not exceed one third of the difference between the maximum and
minimum test loads. The load as indicated by the testing machine and the applied load
computed from the readings of the verification devices shall be recorded at each test
point. Calculate the error, E, and the percentage of error, EP for each point from these
data as follows:
E=A–B
Ep=[E/B]x100

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A = load in N indicated by the machine being verified and
B = applied load in N as determined by the calibrating device
(such as proving ring, load cell, calibrating cylinder etc.)

For checking further accuracy of testing machine concrete cubes of the same grade,
batch, age in SSD condition should be tested on the machine being checked and on a
already calibrated standard compression testing machine and find the difference. Proper
and regular calibration of testing machines is essential.

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SAMPLE OF CONCRETE
Sample of concrete for test specimen shall be taken at the mixer or in the case of ready
mixed concrete from the transportation vehicle discharge. Such samples shall be
obtained by repeatedly passing a scoop or pail through the discharge stream of the
concrete. The samples thus obtained shall be mixed on a non-absorbent base with shovel
until it is uniform in appearance.
Sampling should be spread over the entire period of concreting and the frequency of
sampling of concrete of each grade shall be as following:

Quantity of concrete in the Number of samples

work (m3)

1-5 1

6-15 2

16-30 3

31-50 4

51 and above 4 plus one additional sample for each additional 50

m3 or part thereof.

Note:- Frequency of sampling may be agreed upon internally by supplier and purchaser.

CASTING OF CUBES:
The cube mould plates should be removed, properly cleaned assembled and all the bolts
should be fully tight. A thin layer of oil then shall be applied on all the faces of the mould.
It is important that cube side faces must be parallel.

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After taking concrete samples and mixing them, the cubes shall be cast as soon as
possible. The concrete sample shall be filled into the cube moulds in layers approximately
5 cm deep. In placing each scoopful of concrete, the scoop shall be moved around the
top edge of the mould as the concrete slides from it, in order to ensure a symmetrical
distribution of the concrete with in the mould. Each layer shall be compacted either by
hand or by the vibration as described below.

COMPACTION BY HAND:
Each layer of the concrete filled in the mould shall be compacted by not less than 35
strokes by tamping bar. The strokes shall be penetrate into the underlying layer and the
bottom layer shall be rodded throught its depth. Where voids are left by the tamping bar
the sides of the mould shall be tapped to close the voids.

COMPACTION BY VIBRATION:
When compacting by vibration each layer shall be vibrated by means of an electric or
pneumatic hammer or vibrator or by means of a suitable vibrating table until the specified
condition is attained.

CURING :
The casted cubes shall be stored under shed at a place free from the vibration at a
temperature 220C to 330C for 24 hours covered with wet straw or gunny sacking.

The cube shall be removed from the moulds at the end of 24 hours and immersed in
clean water at a temperature 240C to 300C till the 7 or 28-days age of testing. The cubes
shall be tested in the saturated and surface dry condition.

For the true representation of actual strength of concrete in the structure, extra cubes
shall be cast, stored and curded as per the identical conditions of that structure, and
tested at required age.

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TESTING OF CONCRETE CUBES:

The dimensions of the specimens to the nearest 0.2 mm and their weight shall be noted
before testing. The bearing surfaces of the testing machine shall be wiped clean and any
loose sand or other materials removed from the surface of the specimen which are to be
in contact with the compression platens. The cube shall be placed in the machine in such
a manner that the load shall be applied to opposite sides of the cubes as cast that is not
to the top and bottom. The axis of the specimen shall be carefully aligned with the centre
of the thrust of the spherically seated platen. No packing shall be used between the faces
of the test specimen and the steel platen of the testing machine. As the spherically seated
block is brought to bear on the specimen, the movable portion shall be rotated gently by
hand so that uniform seating may be obtained. The load shall be applied without shock
and increased continuously at a rate of approximately 140 kg/sq cm/min until the
resistance of the specimen to the increasing load breaks down and no greater load can
be sustained. The maximum load applied to the specimen shall then be recorded and the

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appearance of the concrete and any unusual features in the type of failure shall be noted,
see fig-1and fig-2. The compressive strength of concrete shall be calculated from:
Maximum load/Cross-Sectional area of cube To be reported to the nearest 0.5N/mm 2

ACCEPTANCE:
For the acceptance, both the conditions should be met with:
a) The mean strength determined from any group of four-non overlapping consecutive
test results should comply with the appropriate limits as given in table-2

b) Any individual test result complies with in the appropriate limit as given in table-2

Table-2 : Characteristic Compressive Strength Compliance Requirement:

Specified Mean of the group of 4 non-overlapping Individual test results

grade consecutive test results in N/mm2 in N/mm2

M-15 >= fck + 0.825 x established standard deviation >=fck – 3 N/mm2

(rounded off to nearest 0.5 N/mm2)

or

fck + 3 N/mm2

whichever is greater

M-20 or >= fck + 0.825 x established standard deviation >= fck – 4 N/mm2
above
(rounded off to nearest 0.5 N/mm2)

or

fck + 4 N/mm2

whichever is greater

Note: In absence of established standard deviation, the values given in Table-8 of IS:456-
2000 may be assumed.

INTERPRETATIONS-EXAMPLE FOR M-25 GRADE OF CONCRETE

For a pour of 31-50 m3 4 samples (each sample having 3 cubes) are mandatory.
1. The average value of set of three cubes (one sample) should have strength with in the
limits of ±15% of the average value. Otherwise the result of that sample will be invalid.

2. The mean value of 4 samples (4 average values obtained from each sample of 3
cubes) should meet the criteria as given in table-2. For M-25 grade of concrete the mean
value of these 4 samples should not be less than either 29 N/mm2 or 25 N/mm2 plus
0.825 times the standard deviation whichever is the greater.

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3. Any individual test result of a cube out of the above should not have value less than 21
N/mm3.

In case of doubt regarding the grade of concrete used either due to poor workmanship or
based on results of cube strength test further tests should be conducted such as non-
destructive test by Concrete Test Hammer, Ultrasonic Concrete Tester etc. Partial
destructive test by drilling cores and testing them in compression. In no case fewer than
three cores be tested. The final test include the load testing on structure.

DURABILITY OF CONCRETE:
Cube testing alone is not the criteria for the durability of concrete structure. A durable
concrete is one that perform satisfactorily in the working environment during its
anticipated exposure conditions during service. The materials and mix proportions
specified and used should be such as to maintain its integrity and if applicable, to protect
embedded metal from corrosion.

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It is essential that every concrete structure should continue to perform its intended
functions, that is maintained its required strength and serviceability, during the specified
or traditionally expected service life. It follows that concrete must be able to withstand the
processes of deterioration to which it can be expected to be exposed. Such concrete is
said to be durable.
Both strength and durability have to be considered explicitly at the design stage. The
emphasis is on the word both because it would be a mistake to replace overemphasis on
strength by overemphasis on durability.

REFERENCES:

1 IS:456- : Plain and Reinforced Concrete – Code of Practice. BIS, New Delhi
2000

2 IS:10086- : Specification for Moulds for use in Testing of Cement and

1982 Concrete, BIS, New Delhi

3 IS:14858- : Compression Testing Machine used for testing of Concrete and

2000 Mortar Requirements, BIS, New Delhi.

4 IS:516- : Method of Tests for Strength of Concrete, BIS, New Delhi.

1959

5 kishore : “Concrete cube testing is performance assured” Civil Engineering

kaushal and Construction Review, New Delhi, January, 1990, PP:23-24

6 kishore : “Corrosion Damaged Concrete” Civil Engineering and

kaushal Construction Review, New Delhi, January, 1991, PP:27-31

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7 kishore : “Durability and Corrosion of Steel in concrete”. The Institution of
kaushal Engineers (India) All India Seminar on Durability of Concrete and
Cement Products, Nagpur, 22-23 Sept, 1990

8 kishore : “Durability of Concrete” Indian Concrete Institute Bulletin No. 54,

kaushal Jan-Mar, 1996,
PP: 11-13

9 kishore : “Concrete Cube Testing” Civil Engineering and Construction April,

kaushal 1995, PP:33

10 kishore : “Concrete Cube Testing” Bulletin of Indian Concrete Institute No.

kaushal 51, April-June, 1995

11 kishore : “28-days Strength of Concrete in 15 Minutes” Civil Engineering

kaushal and Construction, August, 1992, PP: 38-41

12 kishore : “Non-Destructive Testing of Concrete” Builders Friend, Lucknow,

kaushal Feb, 1992, PP: 3-4

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We at engineeringcivil.com are thankful to Sir Kaushal Kishore for submitting this
research paper and helping all civil engineers understand the Quality Control Of
Construction Testing Of Concrete Cubes.

Kanwarjot Singh

Kanwarjot Singh is the founder of Civil Engineering Portal, a leading civil engineering
website which has been awarded as the best online publication by CIDC. He did his BE
civil from Thapar University, Patiala and has been working on this website with his team
of Civil Engineers.
If you have a query, you can ask a question here.

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