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."AGL.MA.TERIALS'J,QURNAL
~

"

TECHNICAL. PAP':
'

Titla lo. 87-M33

Interpretation 01 Quality-Control Charts for Concrete Productio (

,.11
,

by Steven H. Gebler
7!1{' int{''1preta.!!0n of qlJal~ty-control charts ;s exam;ncd. Both mov
a\'{'ra~e (X) and moV/ng al'erag~ for range charls (R) are dls
cl/s.<{'d. Control charl paflerns are {{uslraled a"d Ihe;r causes are
idcIII(fied. Th, paper will provide the usas of conlro' eharts ;nler.
pr{'tatioll and guidancc an Iheir use and practica' applicalion for
('lilllillalinll out-af-canlrol prable",s.

1fJ!1

.
Kcp\'O,ds: compres"ve slrenglh; con I.'; conl,ol ch.,";
prodllclion melhod.; 'l"allly control.

mi. p,oporlioning;

., .
Quality-cantro.J
charts can be used to. uncaver unanticipatcd variatians in materials, batching, mixing, curing, and testing cancrete.
The primary abjective af
quality-contral'charts
is to. test whether ar nat a pro..ccss is in statistical cantro.1. These charts can pravde
informatian
on whether a pro.blem exists in a cancreting operation; however, quality-control
charts may nat
locate whcre the variability is accurring. QuaJity-co.ntrol charts da pro.vide c1ues o.n where to. Jo.ak fo.r pracess variability. QuaJity-cantrol
charts pravide the benefit,s ?f (1) Iimiting defective batc:.es, (2) fewer rejected
batchc.) ar call backs, (3) cantral af vendars, and (4)
belt~r overall quality. This paper discusses where to.
loak' to reso.lve out-o.f-cantro.l cancreting prablems.

.:

,
;
.
:
i

SIGNIFICANCE

OF aUALlTY
CHARTS

ACI Materlals Journal I July-August 1990

-..,

...1 ...
-

_ ..

temperature

EqUlpment
Testing persanneJ
Specimen fabricatian
Specimen curing
Th
f'
.1
. J

".
ese aeto.rs, elt ler sJng y ar m eambmatlOn,
~
have a dramatic effeet an average strength. The HoY
land Cement Asso.datiall has published a Iist of Y~l
ables that can affeet strength,' which is repraduced bv
in Table l.

Mavlng average far ranga charts (R)

Factors that can arfect the R chart inelude:
Training or inspectors and testing persannel
Changes in inspection and/or testing person.1e
Perfo.rmance o.f testing perso.nnel
Unifo.rmity of canstituent materials
Test-machine
charact,eristics
(-Jut-af-calibrat' ,'(
or platen aut-af-plane,
air in hydraulic li/'le
upper bearing blo.ck no.t ro.tated prior ta sealll'lJ
Test specimens nat aligned in compressian
machine

CONTROL

The follawing Iist gives facto.rs in co.ncrete pro.duction that can influence cantro.l charts. These factors can
have either gaod o.r detrimental
effects an co.ncrete
s~ength . rhe Iist is divided into. maving average charts
(X) and rno.ving average for range charts (ID.'
.'
Movlng average charts (X)
Factors that can arrect the X chart inelude:
Co.nstituent co.ncrete materials
Cements
Admixtures
Aggregates
Batch-plant o.peratio.n
Leve! o.f inspection
Batch-plant equipment to.lerances
Mixing cyele

Cancrete
Testing

Careless handling
Curing variatians

af specimens

Cantral al varJablllty
The fallawing steps can be taken ta reduce vari"lg\
ity in co.mpressive strength af cancrete:
Cantral water
Campensate Jor maisture in aggregate
Obtain unifarm aggregates from stockpiles
Cantro.l mix water Yz gallyd1 (2.5 I/ml)
Minimize variatio.ns in co.ncrete materials (1
son with producers)

----

S/even Gebler, is Principal EI'a/ualion Enginur a/ /he Cons/roc/Of/ Techf/ology Labora/ories, Ine., Skokie, 11:.. lIe joined /he Laboralorles in 1979 and his
ae/ivi/ies have been in various phases of concrete ma/erlals researdl, ('of/cre/e
('01IS/roc/ion re/a/ed problems, durabili/y and performance of mncrele slrac/ares, and pipeline problems. He is an ASME/ACI 359 Levellll COf/crele InspeclOr; Regis/ered Civil Engineer in California, IlIinois, and Maf/i/oba; Regis/ered Quali/y Con/rol Engineer in California; and a membu of eigh/ ACI
COlllmillees. In addi/ion, he is earrently Chairman of Commillu 506, Sho/cre/ing.

--------------------.

--------------------.
Fig. -Natural

patternJ

----~--------~~~~--

Fig. 2-Method
patterns

of applying

tests for

unnatural

--------------------.
Fig. 3-First
side of 3eT

test for unnaturalness: single point out-

. Check mixing cycle (uniformily)

Control transportation
Waiting time is especially important
for highstreng'th concrete
Minimize variations in making, curing, and testing specimens (constant vigilance of testing laboralory)
Aclions commonly taken to minimize variability of
compressive slrength inelude:
Change water-cement ratio
Investigate water content irregularities
Change one or more of the concrete materials
Change batching procedures
Round-robin testing between laboratories
Whcn any of these actions are taken, a new control
chart should be started or existing charts should be
marked to identify changes.
Considerable
information
on quality-control
charts
Wml "respect' to their interpretatlOn, -uses, aild' related
1hillis"fical analysis can be found in ASTM STP 150

, !vfanual on Presentation
:tila ysis.2
320

o Data and Control Char;

CONTROL CHART PATTERNS

The discussions that foIlow focus on interpretation
of
control charts. Fourteen cornmon control chart patterns have been identified) as:
l. Natural patterns
2. Cycles
3. Trends
4. Freaks
5. Bunching or grouping
6. Sudden shift in leve!
7. Gradual shift in level
8. Instability
9. Mixtures
10. Stable forms of mixture
1I. Unstable forms of mixture
12. Stratification
13. Systematic variable
14. Tendency for one chart to foIlow another
Each pallern is brieny explained and illustrated. Where
applicable, a list of factors most probably associated
with moving average charts (X), and moving average
for range charts (R) for concrete is presented.

Natural patterns

A natural pallern has the fol!owing characteristics:

l. Most points lie near the centerline,
2. Few points spread out and approach control limits
3. No points go beyond control limits
lf any of these three characteristics
are missin~, the
...Eall"ern is characterized as unnatu~l.
The primary characteristic of a natural patlern is that
there is no systematic lrend to the points; they obey lhe
laws of chanceo Fig. I il!ustrates a natural patlern for
control charts.) For Xand R charts in control, the average did not change during the period charted and a
significant number of test results were very near the averge .
. An un natural paltern by definition is anything that is
no! natural palten!2 The characteristics of an unnat::'
'ural patlern chart 'are
absence of points near the
-s;e'nter (mixturc), absence of points near control limitlL
Cratif"cation). and points outside c,ontrol limits (n!>l.ability) ..
There are certain tests that can be conducted to determine whether a pattern is unnatural.
Fig. 2 illustrates a simple set of tests.) One-half of the control
band is divided into three zones - A, 'D, and C. Each
zone is one standard deviation (lo) in width. A paltern
Is considered unnatural if any of the lollowlng tests or
combinations are realized.
l. One point outside Zone A (30) (see Fig. 3).
2. Two out of three succe~sive points are eitber in or
beyond Zone A (see Fig. 4).
3. FOUT out of five sucq:ssive points fal! in or beyond Zone B (see Fig. 5).
4. Eight successive points fal! in or beyond Zone e
(see Fig. 6).
These tests were obtained from probability calculations that estimate what "natural"
proportion of poinls
will fall near the centerline and near control Iimits.

an

ACI Materials Journal I July-August 1990

Table 1-Summary

of compresslon strength test variables

Cause of variation

D:uic ~use

Prob:\ble occurrence

ElTect on strenClh

Dord,i", a"d Mlx;11K

Ccmenl, malerial

Typc and composilion

ManufaclUring conlrol
Ace and condilion

With dilTerent brands

Any one brand
Always possible

Considcrable variatioD
Can be considerable
Considerable varialion

Waler

Preseoce of salu
Waler/ccmcrll ralio

1nfrequenl
Dependenl on control

Not cenerally rut

Major elTccl

Chemi~lIy reaclive
Unsound particles
Non.uniform propcrties
Oca n
Particle shapc
Gradina

Common minor fault

InfreQuent
InfreQuenl
Common minor fauh
Crushcr and natural
Always present

Can be considerable
Not IlCneral
Nol general
1'101llcnerally areal
Not wilhin one Iypc
Throullh worhbility

Chcmically reactive
Unsound particles
Non.uniform propcrtics
Clcan
Particle shapc
Gradina
Maximum slu

Uocommon
[Xpendent on source
Wilh porous malerial
Always ponible
Cru~her and nalural
Always presenl
Wilh dilTerenl mixes

Nol appm:iable
Not llenerally real
Not gene rally expcrienoed
Can be considerable
Not wilhin o~ type
Throullh workabililY
Throllh workability

Hot cement
Exlremes of c1imale
Exlremes of climal!:

1'101apprcciable
1'101generally expcrie:nced
1'101generally expcrienccd

Deliberale varialioru

Throuch workabililY

6
7
Sand, material

9
10

"12
13
14

Slone. malerial

"

16
11

18
Tempcralure
Mix

22

Paste.auregale

change

Cemenl balchinl

Errora in wdchinll
Voluln<:lric mc:asuremenl

Infreq~nl
1'101from cenlral plllll

Inconsiderable
Erron plus or minus 20 pcr cent

Waler meuuremenl

Dircclly. added waler

Conlalned wilh und
Swd bulkinl
With coane a"reaate

Where rely on judamenl

Masl common
Not from central planl
Ovcr pcriod

1'101if meuured
Considerable
Can be considerable
Can be considerabJ.e
Erron plus or minul 20

Sand meuuremenl
real
Slone measuremenl

Mildnl

r ccnl

31
32
33
34
3S

Order o( charcinl
Priminl mix
Mixcr speed
Qvcrcharlinl
Time of mildnl

[Xpcndent on opcralor
Qccasional only
Wilh dilTerenl planu
InfreQuenl
FreQuenl

Tesr;",

Generally unimportllnl
Can be considerable
1'101Ileneral
1'101eeneral
Varialion can excd 30 pcr cent

Scarecalion
Consliluenl chan~
Samplin
Blccdin

Chules. lransportllion
Wherever relempct
Differenl locnlions
Mixes wilh water 1051

Planes of wealc.~1
Irnpossible to estimale
Can be apprccillble
1'101 eneran
al

Hand larnpins
Vibralion
Shock
Parlide oricnlallon

Drier rnixes
Over vibration
H:tndling aflcr $CHlnl
Planes of wcakneu

Considerable, exceed SO pcr cenl

Seg~galion in spccimens
Darnallc crea tu weak~
r ocnl
Flal articles-40

Wct screenin,
Sile of specirncn
Heighl/di:lmCler rado
Shapc
Mould Irreluluities

Mau concrete
"";on-slandartl moulds
Non.slwntlurtl moulds
Cubc or cylinder
Non-st:lndud rnouldl

Inc~ose with screeni"1

Oecrcase slrenglh with .Ize
D,'crease liS ralio iocreases
Cubc Slrcnglh rcater
Non-axial load

49

Dryinl out
Moist curin,
Initiallernpcralure
Ttmpcralure
Ate
Moislure conlenl

Fint 24 houra
1'101job curinll
Freezing condilionl
Job curinll in winler
Compare ot S3rnt age
When soccimens drv

1'101areAl
7S pcr cenl
Infrequenl
60 per ccnl
Conlinuous
40 pcr cenl

Cappinl

Plane endl
CaPpinll malerial
Axis of specimen

Most coml11on fauh

Not lultlble
Tcchnique problem

Concavily 30 per cellt, convexity SOpcr cent

Can be apprtldable
1'101lleneroll)' reat

TeSlinc mechlne

Bearinl block
Centerin,
Sp<-ocd
of oadlnc

[Xpcndenl on Iaboralory
[Xpcndent on laboralory
Dependent on laboralory

Can be considcrublc
Can be apprcciable
1'101Ceo<:l1IlIy
.real

Handlina, samplinl

36
37
38

39

Compaclion

40
4\

42
.4)

Sile and chape

Curinl

4S
46
47
48

SO
SI
S2
S3
S4

ACI Mat~rirls Journal , July-August 1990

increase in lO daY'
varialion possible
increese
dilferen<:e

<T

321

--------------------------------------------Fig. 4-Second

test for unnaturalness: Two out of three successive points outside

of2d

---------------------------------------------

----- , .. /\

1\ " 1\

_-/--.J-V 'y/
V
\ V V
--------------------------------------------Fig. 5-Third

test for unnaturalness: Four out of five successive points outside of

Id

----------------------------------------~-----------------------------------------------Fig. 6-Fourth

test for unnaturalness: Eight successive points on one side of the

centerline'

--------------------~

ral. An ilIustration of this is shown in Fig. 7. This type

of pallern must be co~sidered inconclusive until additional points become available.

--------------------~
Fig. 7-lnconclusive pallern: Three out of four points
in Zone BJ-Qne more point could react

D---P\---~---ri----1
___ ,-"J
~- - _Y-- --~ -Fig. 8-([;ycld

Cycles
Cycles are a tendency in the control chart to show
repeated patterns.3 This is common1y characterized by
high and low points with a trough as shown in Fig. 8.
Usted below are causes of cycle pallerns:

X chart

Seasonal
Operator
Rotalion
Different
Shifts -

effects'temperature
fatigue
of peple on job
test equipment
day versuS night

R chart

Maintenance

of batch

plant

equipmcnt

and

ready-mix truck
o Operalor
fatigue
Shifts - day versuS night
Test equipment in need of repair

Trends

Fig. 9-Trendl

Trends are indicated by a long series of conseculivc

points wilhout a significant or abrupt change in direction.l Trends (either increasing or decreasing) are generally easy to identify as shown in Fig. 9. The IOOsl
Iikely causes for trends include:

These TUles are easily applied, hut judgment must be

used to confirm that an unnatural
patlern has occurred. Oftcntimes, an "inconclusive
pattern" oecurs.
This type of pattern does not produce evidence of unnaturalness;
however, it seems that one or two more
points might complete a pattern that would be unnatu-

322

X chart
Equipment wear
BalChing toleranccs
Lack of maintenanee

af equipment,

cspccially

mixer blades
ACI Materlals

Journal

July-August

1990

----------------------~
Fig. Il-Grouping

Fig. IO-Freaks'

or bunching'

--------------------.
Seasonal effects - temperature
Human variables - new personnel
Fatigue of personnel
Extra hoUts
Production schedulcs
Gradual change in mix proportion
Aggregate gradation
In the summer (hot weather), control of mix water is
especially
important
with respect to compressive
strength. Alsd, retempering should be controlled.
Further, slump loss and admixture compatibility
can exacerbate strength variations during summer concreting.

R chart
Increasing trend - less control
Something loose or wearing gradually
Change in mix quantities
, Oecreasing trend - better control
Gradual improvement of batching equipment
Concrete more homogeneous
Improvement of testing personnel performance
Testing machine meets ASTM standards
Test specimens properly handled

Freaks are characterized

by single points significantly different. from the normal population'
as shown
in Fig. 10. Freaks can be considered as outliers. Freaks
can be prodllced by miscalclllation or blunders. Several
causes fhat can crea te a chart with freaks are Iisted below.

X chart

1\ 11

V\jV
V~
-----------

--

-.

Fig. 12-SlIdden shift in leveP

something new into the system.
causes of bunching.

Shown

below are the

X chart
Measurement difficulties
Change in calibration of test equipment
Change in personnel doing tests

R chart
Consistent

error in data (freaks)

Sudden shlft In level

A sudden shift in leveJl is shown in Fig. 12. This
chart is characterized by a relatively dramatic change in
one direction. Charts having a sudden shift in level result from the following causes.

Poor cylinder
dation

from handling

fabrication,

measurement

specimens

Le., lack of consoliand plotting

error

Bunchlng or grouplng
Bllnching is a decrease in scatler1 and is iIIustrated
Fig. 11. It generally indicates a sudden introduction

ACI Materlals Journal I July-August 1990

tolerances

and

or machine

set-

R chart

R chart
Accidental damage
Omitted curing
Poor capping
Error in testing

A new element is introduced, such as:

Concrete materials
Operators:
batcher,
aggregate-Ioading,
tester
New test machine
Inspector
A change in machine
tings

Wrong "1ix used

Error in:
Measurement
of concrete mix proportiolls
I
Testing
Error in ploUing data
Incomplete testing

Calculation

J\

X chart

Freaks

r\

in
of

Change in operator performance

New operators
New equipment
Batching and mixing
Test equipment
. Change in suppliers
Cemnt
aggregates
admixtures
Rise in R chart (reducing control)
Carelessness of personnel
Inadequate maintenance
Inadequate operating gates On batching
ment

equip-

Capping stand loose.

Any factor that tends to reduce uniformity
Orop in R chart (increas'ing control)

323

tvJ\'--------------- ---.

-----

----------------------.

r\

---------------~
Fig. l3-Gradual

----------------------.

change ill leveP

Fig. /6-Separate

pallerns

-------------------------

/\~

1\/\

IV

VVV

------------------------Fig. /7-Stable
line)

Fig. /4-Inslability
on an X charl. 011 R charl, f/e
pallem is similar, out the low points lelld to gather Just
i/lside the lower limit, since they cannot fall below itJ

mixlurl! (very few points near celller-

Instabllity
When a control chart exhibits large f1uctualions in
d la poilll.~ 111a1me hcyolld conlrol Jilllils, il is dassi
ried as an instabilily.J This is iJIuslraled in Fig. 14. This
paltern generally occurs uue lo single or multiplc causes
that affect the center of distribution
of the data or
cause a shifl in the data. The most likely causes for a
pattern showing instability are:
j{

Fig. /5-Mixlur
Improved care in making and lesting cylinders
(placement of cylinder in tesl machine)
Control of waler-cemenl ratio
Belter curing and test equipmenl
Any factor that tcnds to incrcase uniformily

Gradualchange

Batching errors
Inadequale mixing
Different materials being mixed
Erratic behavior of automatic controls

R charl

Untrained testing personnel

Inlerrningling of material s from different
Tesl machines need repair
Unreliable test equipment
Testing personnel carel es s

lots

In level

A chart showing a gradual change in level, Le.,

slowly moving from high to low. or vice versa,l is
shown in Fig. 13. In lhis type of chart, somelhing in the
process has Ihe capability of affecting a few results und
as time goes on, more of the results are affecled. Typical causes are as follows;

Mixtura

X charl
Gra(lual inlroduclion
of new;
Malerials
Aggregate gradation
Supervision
Grealcr skill on part of operator or lesler (atlendance al inslruclional classes)
Change in maintenance
program, whi,ch isexlended lo olhcr parts of operalion
Inlroduclion of process controls elsewhere in the
syslem

R charl
Belter lest equipmenl
Change lO beller rnolds (steelmolds versus olher
malerials)
Belter-trained lesting personnel
Grealer skill in batching and mixing

324

charl

:1 \.

When a control chart is said to "exhibit mixture,"

it
has the following characteristics:l
Data poinls spread from centerline
Many poinls near controllimits
Long-Iength
of lines joining points having a
"seesaw" effect. This is shown in Fig. 15.
In reality, a control chart having mixture is really a
combinatiOll, o Llwb different
pattcrns on the same
' cil'art. This is i1lusfrated in Fig. 16; note Ihe separale
patterns in this fig\1re. The most cornmon cause for
ptterns showirig a mixlure resulls from differences in
plant operalors ortesling rnachines.

Stabla forms of mixtura

Charts exhibiting a stable form of rnixture have the
characterislic
of maintaining
a constant relalive posi.
lion over a period of time.l A stable forms of mixture
chart is iIIuslraled in Fig. 17. Gcnerally slable forms of
mixlure are a reslllt of materials, prodllclion, and/or
testing corning from different sources. Stralificalion
and systemalic varialions are forms of slable rnixture.l
ACI Matarais

Journal

I July-Augusl

1990

Typical cal,lses of stable-form

mixtures are:

X chart .

Consistent differences
Concrete materials
Aggregate gradation
Plant operators

in:

Relatively large quantities of concrete materials

from different 10ls being inadvertent/y mixed
Differences in test machines (use of two or more
machines)

R chart
Rclatively large quantilies
bcing inadverlenlly mixed

of concrele

Fig. /8-Vnstable

mixtures

materials

Frequent drift or jumps in batch plant controls

Differences in tesl machines (use of lwo or more
machines)

Unsfable forms of mlxfure

---------------- ---------------------------

1\ confrol-chart

patlern exhibiling unstable forms of

mixlure is closelY' related lo instabililY, grouping or
bunchingi and freaks.J Fig. 18 shows a control chart
that exhibils unstable mixtures.
The most common
causes of unslable forms of mixture are:

------------

Fig. /9-Stratiflcation1

X chart

Changes due to difference

Materials
Operators

in:

----------------------------variable'

Fig. 20-Systematic

Breakdown in facililies ,or automalic

Overadjllstmerit of batching

controls

Effecl of development
or experimental
(new wlc or admixture)
Change in mixing time
Change in temperature
Incorrect sampling procedures
Change in lesting
Errors in plolting

work

R chart

R chart
Large portions of concrele
from different lots ,

materials

inlermixed

Frequenl dri[t in aulomatic

or water meter
Calculations incorrecl

balching

lolerances

Sysfematlc varIable

Too much play in balching

devices unreliable

conlrols

or shut-off

Mixing concrete malerials from different lots

Mainlenance schedllles not adequate
Plant operators in need of further lraining
M,ixi,ng blades worn or not adjusted
Accidental damage to test specimens
Incomplete mixing of concrete
Unreliable test eqllipment
Plolting errors

Sfraflflcatlon
Stratification
is a form of a stable mixture,' as iIIustrated in Fig. 19. It is best characterized
by smal/ upand-down variations (slight nuctuations)
with the absence of points near control limits. The cause of stratification is anylhing that can consistently affect acrossthe-board tests. Relatively few factors cause charts to
cause stralificalion;
these inelude:

A charl with a systemalic variable has a prediclable

pattern and has the characteristics
of a long, uninterrupled series of high, low, high, etc., poinls.J These
charts appear to be cyelic and have a saw-toothed appearance, as shown in Fig. 20. Syslematic variable on
charts is caused by:

X ch'art
Difference in shifls (day versus night _ lack of
adequale supervision)
Differences in test specimens
dividing samples
Sampling

R chart

consislently

or the melhod

from one batch planl

Error in dividing up data

One shift ures concrete specimens differenlly
than another; double running in precasl planl _
one set of specimens gets more curing than anolher set

X chart

Syslemalic

sampling

errors

Investigale random sampling

being lested?)
Calculalions incorrect

Tendencyof one charf fo follow anofher charf

(first load always

ACI Materials Journal I JulY-August 1990

of

When
lo move
ceased. J
to-Ievel

two or more charts show a tendency for points

up or down Simultaneously,
predictability has
These charts can have peinl-to-point
or levelcorrespondence.
Fig. 21 and 22 show these

325

Fig. 21-Point-to-point

corre/ationJ

----------------------

but overall changes in plots do correspondo When a

control chart has these characteristics, a comprehensive
investigation of the entire process is required.
If point-to-point
correspondence
exists between
charts, there is probably a cause-and-effect relationship
bctween two variables. Examples are concrete mix temperature and mixing water requirement versus compressive strength.
For
check
before
such a

level-Jo-Ievel correspondence, one should first

whether a relationship is theoreticalIy possible
deciding that one exists, even if the charts show
correlation.
SUMMARY

Fig. 22-Leve/-to-leve/

corre/ationJ

characteristics. Note, for example, the corresponding

increase or decrease in point-to-point movement on Fig.
21; these polnts do not necessarily have to correspond
in magnitude, but they will correspond in direction. In
Fig. 22, note the corresponding level change in the two
plots. In level-to-Ievel correlation, the points may not
have the same magnitude or exact change in directiorl,

The use and interpretation of quality control charts

for concrete production has bcen discussed. When control charts are properly interpreted, poor or out-ofcontrol processes can be eliminated so that more consistent concretes can be obtained in the field.

REFERENCES
1. Haddad,

O., and Frceman, S., "Statistical

ProdUCI Control,"
Concrele In/ormarion No. ISI72.0T, Port/and Cemenl Associalion,
Skokie, /970, /6 pp.

2. Manual on Presenlalion o/ Dolo and Conlrol Charl Af/ulysis,

STP-15D,

ASTM, Philadclphia,

1976, 186 pp.

3. Slal/sOcal Qualily COl/lrol Handbook. Weslcrn Elcclric Ca.,

lnc./Mack

Prinling

Co., Easton,

1956, 328 pp.

326
ACI Materlals Journal

I July-Augusl 1990

SUMARIO

DE "AmABLES

A COMPRESION
(PCA,

CAUSA

BASTCA

lTEM

Ccmcnto,
Material

2
3

Agun

4
5
6

Arcna,
Material

CAUSA

Tipo y Composicin
Control dc rabricncin
Edad y Condicin
Prcscnc ia de sa Ics
Relacin ngua/ccmcnto
Qumicamente
reactiva
Partculas no sanas

8
9

Propiedades
Limpicza

10

FOlllla de la partculn
Gradacin

11

no unifolllles

12
]3
14
15

Picdra,
Mnterial

16

del

FOlll11l de
Gradacin

J8

Tmll,nlo mximo
Ccmcnto
Agua
J\grc!wdos

22

Camhio

23
24
I

Mcdicin
agua

Errorcs

partcula

Tnfnrmation

OCURRENCIA

PROBABLE

En marcas di fcrcntcs
En una mnrca cualquicra
Sicmprc cs posible
Inrrccucntc
Depcndc

Comunmente
1nrrecuente
Inrrecuentc

nllla mcnor

Comunmcntc

lill1,1 mcnor
y nnturalcs

No comlill
Dcpcndc dc la rucnte
Con materiales porosos
Siempre posiblc
En picdra chancaeJ y 111Itunll
Siemprc presentc
M':7.clas difercntcs

en el pcso

En variaciones

prcmcditadas

Inrrecucnte

volumtricas

Ninguna

del

dc

25
26
27

Agua InlacJidn dircctamcntc

Contcnido en la arena
Arcna a granel

Con cl agregado

29

Mcehcin dc
la Picdr,1

3()

31
32
33

Mczclil,lo

34
35

Camhios
granel

grueso

dc mnlcrial

cn planta central

Camhios CII eln1<ltcrilI,

Operacin
Ordcn dc Cmguo
MC1cla inicial
Velocidild de mC7.clilcJo
Sohrceilrga
Ticmpo

de mC7.clado

Dondc sc conlic en cljuicio

Mis comlln
Ninguna cn plantil ccntral
En pcrodos rcpctidos
Ninguna

cn planta celltral

Dondc cl control cs lilllitado

D,~pcndc dcl opcrador

SOlill11Clllc oCilsional
En plilntas dikrcntcs
Infrccucntc
Frccncntc

EFECTO

SOBRE

LA RESrSTENCL\

Variacin considcrablc
Puedc scr considcrablc
Variacin considcrablc
Gcncrnlmcntc
Etecto mnyor

del Control

En arcnas chancadns
Sicmprc prcscntc

y MEZCLA

01', 1971)

N.ISI72.

Ccmcnto calientc
En climas extremos
En climas cxtrcmos

dc pasta-aorcgaclo

Mcdiciones

Concrete

A LA DOSTFTCACION

Medicin
Arcna

no unirormcs

17

]9

Dosificacin
cemcnto

Propicdades
Limpiua

20
21

Tcmperatnra

Mez cla

Quimicamcntc
rcactiva
Partculas no sanns

111

DEBIDO

DE VARTACION

EN LOS ENSA VOS DE RESTSTENCTA

no grandc

Puede scr considerablc

Parcial
Parcial
Gcncralmcntc
no grandc
Ninguno dcntro dc un tipo
Por medio dc la trabajabilidad
No npreciable
Gcncralmcnte

no grandc

No experimcntado
gcncralmcntc
Puede ser considcrablc
No dcntro dc un tipo
Por medio dc la trabajllbilidad
Por medio de la trabajabilidad
No aprcciable
No cxpcrimentado
No cxpcrimcntado

gencmlmcnte
gcncralmcntc

Por mcdio dc la trabajabilidad

No considcmhlc
r:rrorcs de + 20%
Nmglillo si cs mcdida
Considcrable
Pucde scr considcrahlc
Pucde scr considerable
Enorcs

mcnores

Gcncralmcntc

quc + 20%,

no grandc

C;cncr,i1lllcnlc sin illlPortancia

Pucdc ser considerable
Ningnno cn gcncral
Ningnno cn gcncr,i1
fAIS variaciones

plleden cxceder

dcl

3()')I"

SUMARlO

DE VARIABLES

A COMPRESlON

DEBIDO

AL MUESTREO

(PCA, Concrete

CAUSA BASrCA

ITEM

36
37
3g

Manipuleo,
Muestrco

39

CAUSA DE VARrACrON

Scgrcgacin
Cambios en los constituycntcs
Mucstrco
Sangrado

EN LOS ENSA YOS DE RESISTENCIA

Inforllllltion

y ENSA YO DE LAS PROBETAS

N. IS I 72.0T,

OCURRENCrA

197IJ)

PHOBABLE

40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
4g

Tamao y
f onna

49
50
51
52
53
54

Curado

Capping

Manual

Planos dc dcbilidad
Imposiblc dc cstimar

En localidadcs difcrcntcs
Mczclas con prdida de agua

Pucdc scr aprcciablc

Gcncralmcnte no grandc

Sccado dc las mucstras

Sobre vibrado

Por vibracin
Choquc
Orientacin

de Partculas

Zarandeo Hmcdo
Tamaio del cspccimen
Rclacin altura/di{unctro
Porma
In-cgularidadcs

en los moldes

Secado
Curado hmcdo
Tcmpcratura
Temperatura
Ed<IC.J

Incial

SOBHE LA RESrSTENCrA

Por los chutcs o cl transporte

Dondc se rcticmplc

Compactacin

EFECTO

Manipuleo despus dc la fragua

Planos de debilitmnicnto
Concrcto masivo
Moldcs no cstndar
Moldcs no cstndar
Cbica o cilndrica
Moldes no estndar
Las primeras 24 horas
No hay un trabajo de curado
Condicioncs de congclamicnto
Trabajo de curado en invielllo
Comparar a la misma edad

Considerablc,

exccdc el 50%

Segrcgacin cn los especimenes

El dao crea debilitamicnto
Partculas DIanas - 40').{,
Sc incrcmcnta con cl zarandco
Decrccc la resistencia con cl tamao
Dccrccc cuando la relacin aumcnta
La resistencia cbica es mayor
Caro as no axiales
No grande
75% de incremento en ] O das
Infrecucnte
60% dc variacin posible
Incremcnto continuo

Contcnido dc humedad

Cuando los cspccimcncs cstn sccos 40% de difcrcncia

55

Extrcmos planos

56
57

Matcrial dc eapping
Ejcs del especimen

falla ms comn
No disponiblc
Problcma tcnico

Generalmente

5X

Bloque de carga
Centrado
Veloci(bd de carga

Dcpende dcl laboratorio

Depcndc del laboratorio
Dependc del laboratorio

Puede ser considerable

Puede ser apreciable
(,eneralmente no grande

Concavidad 30% eonvcxidad 50%

Pucde ser Ilprcciable
no grande

Mquina de Ens~IYo

59
60

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