EXPERIMENT NO.

1
CORRELATION BETWEEN 7 DAYS AND 28 DAYS
STRENGTH OF M20 GRADE CONCRETE
1.1 AIM:
To find out and correlate the compression strength of M20 grade concrete

1.2 APPARATUS REQUIRED:

i) CTM (Cube Testing Machine)

1.3: THEORY:
Characteristic compressive strength:
It is the strength of the material below which not more than 5% of the test results are
expected to fall.
1)Sample size:150mm*150mm*150mm
2)28 days curing is required
3)No of samples=3(for each min)
4)Test the sample in the compression testing machine and record the individual strength values
5)IS 456-2000:If no of samples are 3 and individual variations are not greater than 15% from
the mean value, then the average value is the characteristic strength of concrete.
6)If the above condition is not satisfied then follow the below procedure,
Let x1,x2,x3 be the individual values of three specimens,
a)Mean

x =

b)Variance =

c)Standard deviation =

Characteristics compressive strength is fck,

fck

= f av+ k
k= Harmsworth constant

for not more than 5% of test results are expected to fall,

k=1.64, but take k= 1.65,fck

= f av+ 1.65

1.4 PROCEDURE
i) At first six cubes are casted using M20 mix and are left untouched for 24 hours.
ii) After 24 hours moulds are unfolded and samples are kept inside water for curing.
iii) Then after 7 days three samples are taken out of water, and after the sample is
surface dry the sample is loaded in CTM and tested for compressive strength. The average
compressive strength of three cubes is taken as 7 days compressive strength of cubes.
iv) The remaining three samples are taken out of water after 28days and tested in
CTM after surface drying of the sample. The average compressive strength of three cubes are
found and is taken as the 28 days compressive strength of cubes.
v) Finally a plot is drawn between the compressive strength and number of days.

1.5 OBSERVATION AND CALCULATION

The observations after the test are tabulated below:
Observation for 7days compressive strength:
W/C ratio=0.37 Age of the sample=7 days
Size of the sample=150mmx150mmx150mm
Table:1.1- 7days Compressive strength of mix having w/c=0.37 and cement type OPC
SL.NO

NAME OF THE
SAMPLE

LOAD
(N)

AREA OF THE
SAMPLE (mm2)

STRENGTH
(N/mm2)

VARIATION
(%)

X1

388000

22500

17.24

5.7

X2

344000

22500

15.29

6.25

X3

369400

22500

16.42

0.67

AVERAGE

16.31

Calculations:
1)

=17.24 N/mm2
2) Variation from average value =
=
=5.7 %
Observation for 28 days compressive strength:
W/C ratio=0.37 Age of the sample=7 days
Size of the sample=150mmx150mmx150mm
Table:1.2- 28 days Compressive strength of mix having w/c=0.37 and cement type OPC
SL.NO

NAME OF THE
SAMPLE

LOAD
(N)

AREA OF THE
SAMPLE (mm2)

STRENGTH
(N/mm2)

VARIATION
(%)

X1

652400

22500

28.99

2.75

X2

705100

22500

31.34

5.1

X3

654800

22500

29.10

2.4

AVERAGE

Calculations:
1)

= 28.99 N/mm2

29.81

2)Variation from average value =

=
=2.75 %

1.6 RESULT AND CONCLUSION

The 7 days compressive strength of M20 Mix = 16.31 N/mm2
The 28 days compressive strength of M20 Mix = 29.81 N/mm2

35

Compressive Strength (in N/mm2)

30
25
20
15
10
5
0
7 days Strength

28 days strength