JMC Projects ( India ) Limited

Technical Bulletin - 09
ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA FROM CONCRETE CUBE RESULTS
Strictly for internal circulation only

- byS.N.SrinivasaSarma,InfraDivision,Mumbai Page1
Introduction
Evaluation of test results is one of the
significant need in conformity verification
procedure. The concrete standards or
specification gives directives regarding the
checking if the hardened concrete conforms
to the compressive strength requirements of
designed grade of concrete. This technical
bulletin covers such evaluation of concrete
using the 28 days compressive strength
governed by Indian Standard specifications
andcodeofpractices.

Acceptancecriteria(clause16ofIS456:2000,clause302.11ofIRC21:2000,clause1716.2.5of
MoSRT&Handclause8.7.6ofIRS:CBC)

Threetestspecimensfor28days
compressivestrength
Checkcubemoulddimensions,checksamplingand
castingprocedures
Discardsampledatafromanalysis
individualvariationas%ofmeanof
threecubesis>15%
Thesampledataisaccepted,ifgreaterthanf
ck
.
individualvariationas%ofmeanof
threecubesis15%
Threetestspecimensfor28days
compressivestrength
Theconcretestructureisrejected.
TheconcretestructureissubjectedtoDestructive
testorNDT(Non-DestructiveTest)interpretation.
Designeraccepatnceissoughtforthelowergrade.
Reasonswouldbelowercementstrenght,lower
cementcontent,imporperfreeemoisture
correction,morewateradded.
Individualcubeis<f
ck
- 4Mpa(asper
IS456)
Individualcubeis<f
ck
- 3Mpa(asper
IRC21,MoSRT&H,IRS:CBC)
Futherevaluationneeded.
Individualcubeis f
ck
- 4Mpa(asperIS456)
Individualcubeis f
ck
- 3Mpa(asperIRC21,
MoSRT&H,IRS:CBC)
Threetestspecimensfor28days,
Individualcubeis f
ck
- 4Mpa(asperIS456)
Individualcubeis f
ck
- 3Mpa(asperIRC21,MoSRT&H,IRS:CBC)
Meanoffourconsecutivecubestrengths(nonoverlapping,i.e.,inthesameofgroupoftotalcubescast
fortheday,usingsameplantandsamesourceofmaterials)(asperIS456andIRS:CBC)
Meanoffourconsecutivesamples(i.e.,inthesameofgroupoftotalcubescastfortheday,usingsame
plantandsamesourceofmaterials)(asperIRC21andMoSRT&H)
Theconcretestructureisaccepted.
Checkcementstrength,Checkplant
calibration,checktestingmachinecalibration
f
ck
+4Mpa(asperIS456)
>f
ck
(asperMoSRT&H)
f
ck
+3Mpa(asperIRC21andIRS:CBC)
Concretestructureisrejected.
TheconcretestructureissubjectedtoDestructivetestor
NDT(Non-DestructiveTest)interpretationonagreed
conditionswithCustomer.
Checkconcretemixdesign.
TryexceedTargetMeanStrength.
TrymixeswithlowerW-C(water-cement/itious)ratios.
<f
ck
+4Mpa(asperIS456)
<f
ck
(asperMoSRT&H)
<f
ck
+3Mpa(asperIRC21and
IRS:CBC)

JMC Projects ( India ) Limited
Technical Bulletin - 09
ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA FROM CONCRETE CUBE RESULTS
Strictly for internal circulation only

- byS.N.SrinivasaSarma,InfraDivision,Mumbai Page2
Destructive or Non-Destructive tests for
conformity
When the individual cube strength is less
than specified the following tests are
recommended by IS 456:2000 on the
structural members (not on cubes). These
testsmayalsobeperformedwhenthegroup
of four consecutive cube results are failed to
meet the specification requirements, but
under the agreed condition with the
Customer.
Non-Destructivetests
The Non-destructive tests are two types as
perIS13311
1. IS 13311 Part 1: Ultra Pulse Velocity,
this test provides the homogeneity or
quality of concrete, available voids in
concrete,cracksinconcretemembers.
2. IS13311Part2:Reboundhammer,this
test provides the likely compressive
strengthofconcrete.
Other tests for non-destructive method of
determining the strength of concrete are as
follows. Selection of a particular method of
testdependsontheuseorapplicationofload
onthestructure.
ASTM C803 / C803M-03 (2010) :
Standard test method for penetration
resistanceofhardenedconcrete
ASTM C900 : Standard test method for
pulloutstrengthofhardenedconcrete
ASTM C1074-10 : Standard practice for
estimating concrete strength by the
maturitymethod
DestructiveTests
IS 456:2000 clause 17.4 prescribes
compressive strength test by cores, when
testedasperIS516;
Individual core strength shall be more
than75%ofcubestrength
Mean of strength of all cores shall be
morethan85%ofcubestrength
Further, core compressive strength does not
satisfytherequirements;
IS 456:2000 clause 17.6 prescribes a load
test for flexural members (i.e., the members
subjectedtobendingmoment)
Loadthestructureandnotedeflection
Load = dead load of structure + 1.25 x
imposedload
Notethedeflectionafter24hours
Removethe loadandnote the deflection
after24hours
Rebound shall be 75% of the deflection
underimposedload
Ifdoesnotrecovered75%
Repeatthetestafterlapse72hours
Rebound shall be 80% of the deflection
underimposedload.
Conclusion
Perfectly casting of concrete cubes is a very
important aspect in evaluation of conformity;
othersaremixdesignofconcrete, controlon
the properties of concrete ingredients and
mix. This cube of 150mm size decides the
fate of a structure. Every aspect of casting a
cubeshowsitsaffectonstrengthgain,afew
to example; materials by which the cube
mould is made, riveting or bolting method
appliedtokeepthecubeinposition,firmness
of ground on which a cube is cast, sampling
of concrete, training or experience of the
person casting cubes, method of casting
cubes, compaction of concrete, handling of
freshly cast as well as hardened cubes,
curing method, temperature of curing tank if
curingisbyimmersionintowater,calibration
of compressive strength testing machine,
trueness of platens of test apparatus and
truenessofsphereintheplaten.
References
1. IS 456:2000 Plain and Reinforced
ConcretecodeofpracticebyBureauof
IndianStandards
2. SpecificationforRoadandBridgeworks
by Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport
andHighways
3. IRC21:2000Standardspecificationand
codeofpracticeforroadbridges,Section-
3, Cement Concrete (Plain and
Reinforced)byIndianRoadCongress
4. IRS:CBC Code of practice for Plain,
ReinforcedandPre-stressedconcretefor
general bridge construction by Indian
Railway Standard : Concrete Bridge
Code.

JMC Projects ( India ) Limited
Technical Bulletin - 09
ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA FROM CONCRETE CUBE RESULTS
Strictly for internal circulation only

- byS.N.SrinivasaSarma,InfraDivision,Mumbai Page3

Cube
strength
Mean
Variation
from
mean
Individual
cube
strength
Mean
Mean of
four
consecutive
samples
Actual
(from
col.D)
Corrected
(from
col.G)
Assumed
(Mix
Design)
Remarks
Individual
cube
strength
Mean
Actual
(from
col.D)
Correcte
d (from
col.G)
Assumed
(Mix
Design)
Remarks
A B C D E F G H K L M N P Q R S T G H K L N P Q R S T
1 xx.xx.2010 XX-AA-## 67.87 -3.93 67.87 A 67.87 A
60.31 7.65 60.31 A 60.31 A
67.74 -3.73 67.74 A 67.74 A
73.29 -19.64 - - - -
51.78 15.48 - - - -
58.71 4.16 - - - -
53.42 12.18 53.42 NA 53.42 NA 62.34 NA
60.58 0.41 60.58 A 60.58 A 60.51 NA
68.49 -12.59 68.49 A 68.49 A 62.56 NA
63.11 7.03 63.11 A 63.11 A 61.40 NA
68.80 -1.36 68.80 A 68.80 A 65.25 A
71.73 -5.67 71.73 A 71.73 A 68.03 A
58.49 -0.97 - - - -
68.76 -18.70 - - - -
46.53 19.67 - - - -
67.51 -2.45 67.51 A 67.51 A 67.79 A
67.69 -2.72 67.69 A 67.69 A 68.93 A
62.49 5.17 62.49 A 64.98 >60 A 62.49 A 67.36 A
61.20 0.29 61.20 A 61.20 A 64.72 A
62.40 -1.67 62.40 A 62.40 A 63.45 NA
60.53 1.38 60.53 A 64.00 >60 A 6.8 4.8 8.5 60.53 A 61.66 NA 6.8 4.8 5.0
S.No
Date of
casting
Segment ID
Actual results achived
(Mpa)
Acceptance criteria as per MoSRT&Hclause 1716.2.5
after discrading invalid
results (more than +/-15%)
(Mpa)
Four Consecutive samples results
(Mpa)
Standard Deviation
Specification
requirement (A-
acceptable / NA-
not acceptable)
65.31
61.26
60.83 60.83
67.88 67.88
Specification
requirement (A-
acceptable / NA-not
acceptable)
>57
65.90
61.38 61.38
57.93
65.90
Specification
requirement (A-
acceptable / NA-
not acceptable)
65.31
EXAMPLE FOR ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA FOR CONCRETE CUBES
Specification
requirement (A-
acceptable / NA-not
acceptable)
>56 >64
Not acceptable
eventhouh the
achieved
standard
deviation is less
that assumed,
since more
number of
mean of four
consecutive test
results does not
comply to the
minimum
strength
requirements of
64Mpa. And
hence a
destructive or
non-destructive
test is propsed.
Acceptable
based on
individual
cube results
are more than
60Mpa,
average of
four
consecutive
samples are
more than
60Mpa and the
achieved
standard
deviation is
less than the
assumed.
Acceptance criteria as per clause 16 of IS 456:2000
after discrading invalid results
(more than +/-15%) (Mpa)
Four Consecutive test results
(Mpa)
Standard Deviation