Troubleshooting Low

Strength Concrete
By

Kim Basham, PhD, PE, FACI

KB Engineering, LLC
1716 Capitol Ave.
Cheyenne, WY 82001
kbasham@KBEngllc.com
(307) 635-7240

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Test Specimens

6 x 12 or 4 x 8
Cylinder

6 x 6 x 20 Beam

Cylinder size should be specified

in contract documents or agreed
upon by owner, licensed design
professional and testing agency
before construction.
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Strength Test for Acceptance

Strength test average of two 6 x 12 cylinders
or three 4 x 8 cylinders
made from the same concrete
Made according to ASTM C 31 Practice for making
& curing concrete test specimens

Tested (28 days) according to ASTM C 39 Test

method for compressive strength of cylindrical concrete
specimens
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Strength =
Load Area
Example
P max = 52,878 lbs
A = 12.56 sq in (4 x 8)
Cyl. Strength = 52,878
12.56
Cyl. Strength = 4,210 psi

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Standard Versus Field

Cured Specimens
Standard-cured or Laboratory-cured
- Cure test specimens at standard
temperatures & times
Field-cured
- Cure test specimens same as
structure they represent

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Cure temperature affects rate of strength gain

Standard-cure: strength used for specified

strength acceptance
Field-cured: used to evaluate field curing
and early-age, in-place concrete strength to
establish form, shore & reshore removal
times
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Should Field-cured Specimens

Be Used for Acceptance?
Answer:

NO

Why Not? Field-cured will have less strength than

standard-cured specimens (up to 15% less)
Specified strength is (typically) based
on standard-cured specimens
What does your specifications require?
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Should We Expect Some

Low Strength Tests?
Answer:

YES

Low strength tests will occur about

one or two in 100 tests

due to normal variability

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Concrete Acceptance
according to ACI 318 Building Code
Requirements for Structural Concrete

Two requirements (5,000 psi or less):

1. Arithmetic average of three consecutive
tests equals or exceeds specified
strength (fc)
2. No single test is lower than specified
strength by more than 500 psi
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When fc is greater than 5,000 psi

1. Average of three consecutive tests
equals or exceeds specified strength (fc)
2. No single test is lower than specified
strength by more than 10% (or 0.10fc)

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Acceptable Example
for 4,000 psi specified strength (fc)
Test
No.

Individual Cyl.
No. 1
No.2

Strength
Test

4,110

4,260

4,185

Avg. of 3
Strength
Tests
__

3,840

4,080

3,960

__

4,420

4,450

4,435

4,193

3,670

3,820

3,745

4,047

4,620

4,570

4,595

4,258

(Avg of Cyl 1 & 2)

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Low Strength Example

for 4,000 psi specified strength (fc)
Test
No.

Individual Cyl.
No. 1
No.2

Strength
Test

3,620

3,550

3,585

Avg. of 3
Strength
Tests
__

3,970

4,060

4,015

__

4,080

4,000

4,404

3,880

4860

4700

4,780

4,047

3,390

3,110

3,250

4,023

(Avg of Cyl 1 & 2)

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NOW, the BIG QUESTION

Whats the problem?

Bad Concrete?
or

Bad Testing?
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Troubleshooting Concrete Testing

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Testing Factors
Field Procedures
Sampling & Testing
Casting of Specimens
Initial Storage
Transportation
Specimen Size
Mold Type

Laboratory Procedures
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Consolidation
Fill in three layers
Rod each layer 25 times
Tap sides to close rod holes
See ASTM C 31

Poor consolidation can

reduce strength by as
much as 60%.

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End Planeness (up to 75% strength reduction)

ASTM C 42
sets limits

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Standard Cure (ASTM C 31)

Initial:

Summer Curing

60 to 80F up to 48 hrs
68 to 78F up to 48 hrs for
6,000 psi or greater
Hot cylinders cause
high early strength but
low ultimate strength.

Winter Curing
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Compressive Strength - psi

Lower Cylinder Strength

Phoenix AZ June

6000

Strength Reduction?

5000
At 1 Day

4000

At 28 days

3000
2000
1000
0
30

50
70
90
110 130
Curing Temperature - Deg F

If initial 24-hr cure temperature is at 100oF, then 28-day strength

can be 10% to 15% lower than standard cured.
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The ultimate!

Heating &
Cooling Unit

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Moist or Fog Room

Standard Cure (ASTM C 31)

Final:

73 3F using water
storage tanks or moist
rooms
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Lab should hold test

specimens with low
breaks.

Inspect broken specimens:

Type of break
Consolidation of concrete
(rod holes?)
End conditions
Break through or around
aggregates
Aggregate appearance,
desperation, gradation, etc.
Paste appearance (e.g.
evidence of freezing)
Other ??

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Uncoated sand particles

Adequate Mixing?

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Things to Remember (Testing)

Standard Cure vs. Field Cure
Obtaining sample - at truck or point of placement
(rear of truck default location)
Obtain sample after all water and admixtures have
been added
Make cylinders correctly
Handle cylinders correctly
Initial curing most important factor
Contractor responsible for curing facility
Evaluate test results correctly
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Low Running Average of 3

Consecutive Tests (fc = 4,000 psi)
Test
No.

Individual Cyl.
No. 1

No.2

Strength
Test
(Avg of Cyl 1 & 2)

Avg. of 3
Strength
Tests

4,100

3,900

4,000

__

3,840

4,080

3,960

__

3,980

3,850

3,920

3,960

3,670

3,820

3,750

3,880

4,000

4,200

4,100

3,920
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If test results within 500 psi (or 10%fc)

of fc but running average below fc

Accept Concrete and

Adjust plant procedures (QC)
Check mix design & batch procedures
Moisture content of aggregates
Check scales, water meter, admixture
dispenser, etc.

Adjust mix
Calculate psi / lb of cement and adjust
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Low Strength Example

for 4,000 psi specified strength (fc)
Test
No.

Individual Cyl.
No. 1
No.2

Strength
Test

3,620

3,550

3,585

Avg. of 3
Strength
Tests
__

3,970

4,060

4,015

__

4,080

4,000

4,404

3,880

4860

4700

4,780

4,047

3,390

3,110

3,250

4,023

(Avg of Cyl 1 & 2)

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If any strength falls below fc by

more than 500 psi (or 10%fc)*
Must investigate & take steps to insure
capacity of structure not jeopardized
A. Review testing procedures and results, etc.
Confirm or deny likelihood of low-strength tests

B. Engineer Review
Will low strength concrete significantly affect load-carrying
capacity of structure?
No Accept concrete
Yes - Conduct in-place strength evaluation

C. Conduct In-place strength evaluation

Use non-destructive testing: for information only
Use drilled cores for concrete acceptance or rejection
*when fc exceeds 5,000 psi

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In-place Concrete Strength

Destructive
Drilled cores

Nondestructive
Impact hammer
Probe penetration
Ultrasonic pulse velocity
Other

1. Locate areas with questionable concrete

2. Determine likelihood structure has low
strength concrete
3. Compare acceptable to questionable
concrete

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Cores Represent

Quality of In-place Concrete

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In Addition to Strength,
Cores Evaluate

Batching

Placing techniques

Mixing

Consolidation

Transportation

Curing & protection

Sampling

Drilling & handling

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Three Cores Required for

Strength Acceptance*
1. Average of three cores is equal to at
least 85% of specified strength (fc)
X average 0.85 fc

2. No single core is less than 75% of

specified strength
X i 0.75 fc where i = 1, 3
*Assumes three cores are from same wheelbarrow of concrete.
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0.85 Factor Accounts for

Difference in size of cylinder vs. core
Drilling operation
Different placement & consolidation
Different curing conditions
Primarily, temperature & moisture differences

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Effects of Curing on Strength

Cylinders @ 28 days100% strength
18%
35%

Cores @ 28 days82% strength for well

cured slab (18% diff)
Cores @ 28-days65% strength for
poorly cured slabs
(35% diff)

What about walls &

columns?
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Example:
Specified Strength (fc) = 3,000 psi
Individual core values
1. 2,950 psi
2. 3,100 psi
3. 2,500 psi

Avg. = 2,850 psi

ACI 318 requirements for strength acceptance

1. 2,850 psi greater than 2,550 psi (0.85 x 3,000)
2. 2,500 psi greater than 2,250 psi (0.75 x 3,000)
YES and YES

ACCEPTABLE STRENGTH
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Proper drilling &

Removal yields
good cores
Rebar
May increase or decrease

strength.
Rebar located
perpendicular in core can
lower strength about 3 to
8%.
Avoid rebar in cores.
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Effects of Drilling Cores

Damages bond between aggregates &

paste, dislodges coarse aggregate

May lower strength from 5 to 7%

Recommendation:
Wait at least 14 days before drilling

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Handle cores
with care

Determine
cores unit
weight

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Coring Direction Affects Strength

Core A will be 7 to 9% stronger than Core B

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Difference Between Vertical &

Horizontal Core Depends On
Placement technique
Consolidation
Mix design
Bleeding characteristics
If possible, drill in vertical direction.
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Top-to-bottom Strength Variations

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Strength Differences
Bridge decks
15% top-to-bottom strength differences

Slabs on ground
8% top-to-bottom strength differences
Including top 25% of core from decks
& slabs can reduce core strength
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Beam Strength Contours (%)

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Wall Strength Contours (%)

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For Every 1% Air,

Core Strength Is Reduced 5%

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Size Restrictions for Cores

According to ASTM C 42
Core diameter should be at least 3.70
(for aggregate less than 1 )
For aggregate larger than 1
Diameter should be 3 times max. aggregate size
Diameter at least 2 times max. aggregate size

Length/diameter (l/d) ratio should be between

1.9 and 2.1.
For l/d ratios between 1.0 and 1.75, use
correction factors.
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Moisture Condition of Cores

Dry cores may be 15 to 20% and
up to 30% stronger than wet cores
1. As Received Condition - moisture conditioning
procedures specified ASTM C 42 in are intended
to preserve the moisture of the drilled core and to
provide a reproducible moisture condition that
minimizes the effects of moisture gradients
introduced by wetting during drilling and specimen
preparation.

2. As Directed by Specifying Authority

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28-day Strength vs. W/CM Ratio

Adding 1 gal of
water may
reduce strength
by as much as
200 psi.
1% reduction in
cement content
may reduce
strength by as
much as 50 psi

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28-Day Strength vs Air Content

2 to 6% strength
reduction may
occur for every
1% air

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When core strength fails to

satisfy acceptance criteria
and structural adequacy
remains in doubt
Perform a strength evaluation in
accordance with Chapter 20 from ACI 318
Take appropriate actions (strengthening) to
insure the structural adequacy and safety
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Impact Hammer (ASTM C805)

Schmidt Rebound Hammer

51/64

Impact Hammer
Spring-driven plunger strikes
surface & rebounds
Amount of rebound depends
on surface hardness
Rebound affected by surface
condition & aggregate position
relative to surface
Concrete strength related to
surface hardness
52/64

Can estimate
strength with
limited accuracy

53/64

Penetration Probe (ASTM C803)

54/64

 Steel Probe Shot Into Concrete

Penetration affected
by strength of mortar
& aggregates.
Depth correlates with
strength

Commonly called
Windsor Probe

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Penetration Depth vs Strength

To insure accuracy, establish calibration for

concrete being investigated instead of using
calibrate curves provided by manufacture.

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Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity

(ASTM E494)

57/64

Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity

Vibration wave sent
through concrete
Pulse velocity
determined using time
& travel length
Pulse velocity related to
concrete strength
Example:
16,000 ft/sec 4,000 psi
58/64

Nondestructive Testing for Strength

CAUTION!
Be careful using nondestructive testing to
estimate or measure in-place concrete strength
Not recognized by ACI 318 for acceptance
Correlate nondestructive tests with cores!

Average
Core
Strength
Average NDT Results
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Use NDT To
Compare questionable concrete to
acceptable concrete
Locate areas with questionable concrete
Help investigate low strength concrete
Understand Limitations
Accuracy & Precision
Check Repeatability in Field
Correlate
Have a Plan for Using NDT Results

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Troubleshooting Low Concrete Strength

A. Review testing procedures and results
1.

Verify low strengths truly exists. Check cylinder strengths,

strength tests and interpretation of results.

2.

Cylinders properly made and cured (lab vs field cured)?

3.

Compare batch tickets to mix design.

4.

Look for batching errors.

5.

Check for changed materials (cement, aggregate or

admixtures).

6.

Check water added and w/cm ratios.

7.

Check air contents and unit weights.

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8.

If arithmetic average of three consecutive strength tests

falls below fc, make corrective actions to increase
subsequent strength test results.

9.

If any strength tests falls below fc by more than 500 psi

(or 10%fc), take steps to ensure that load-carrying
capacity of the structure has not been jeopardized.
B. Engineer Review
C. Conduct In-place Strength Evaluation
10.If required, use drilled cores for concrete acceptance.
ACI 318 does not recognize NDT results for concrete acceptance.

11. When using cores, review concrete placement techniques,

curing temperatures, core locations, and stress history
12. Evaluated cores correctly using 85% and 75% criteria.
13. Remember the ultimate goal - STRUCTURAL SAFETY

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References:

ACI 214R-11 Guide for Evaluation of Strength Test Results of

Concrete

ACI 214.4R-10 Guide for Obtaining Cores and Interpreting

Compressive Strength Results

ACI 228.1R-03 In-Place Methods to Estimate Concrete Strength

ACI 228.2R-98 Nondestructive Test Methods for Evaluating Concrete

in Structures

ACI 318-11 Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete

Understanding Concrete Core Testing by B. A. Suprenant, NRMCA

Handbook on Nondestructive Testing of Concrete, 2nd Edition by V.

M. Malhotra and N. J. Carino

Technical Report #32 Analysis of Hardened Concrete by The

Concrete Society

Testing of Concrete in Structures, 2nd Edition by J. H. Bungey

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Thank You!

For more info

Kim Basham, PhD, PE, FACI

KB Engineering, LLC
kbasham@KBEngLLC.com
KBEngLLC.com
307/665-7240
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