ACI 318M-08 and ACI 214-02, and

ACI 318M-08 :
CODE: 5.6.3.3 Strength level of an
individual class of concrete shall be
considered satisfactory if both of the
following requirements are met:
(a) Every arithmetic average of any three
consecutive strength tests equals or
exceeds fc .
(b) No strength test falls below fc by
more than 3.5 MPa when fc is 35 MPa
or less; or by more than 0.10fc when fc
is more than 35 MPa.
CODE: 5.6.3.4
If either of the
requirements of 5.6.3.3 is not met, steps
shall be taken to increase the average of
subsequent strength test results.
COMMENTARY : R5.6.3.4 The steps
taken to increase the average level of test
results will depend on the particular
circumstances, but could include one or
more of the following: (a) An increase in
cementitious materials content.
(b)
Changes in mixture proportions. (c)
Reductions in or better control of levels
of slum supplied. (d) A reduction in
delivery time.
(e) Closer control
of air content. (f) An improvement in the
quality of the testing, including strict
compliance
with
standard
test
procedures.

suggest a standard deviation to produce

an economical mix for similar work to
use it in calculation of fcr .

Example 1: The 28-day strength for the

30 strength tests results given below.
The

project

specifications

call

for

concrete with a specified strength of

28MPa. Analyze results according to

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Test

28-day

No.

strength, MPa

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30

33.1
35.2
32.8
34.5
34.8
31.5
33.2
33.3
35.0
33.9
29.6
27.8
33.8
34.8
32.6
32.0
35.3
34.3
39.6
37.3
35.3
31.9
35.8
38.5
37.4
33.3
34.9
34.8
33.3
30.4

Example 1 (contd) Calculations and Discussion:

Test
No.

28-day
strength, MPa

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30

MPa
33.1
35.2
32.8
34.5
34.8
31.5
33.2
33.3
35.0
33.9
29.6
27.8
33.8
34.8
32.6
32.0
35.3
34.3
39.6
37.3
35.3
31.9
35.8
38.5
37.4
33.3
34.9
34.8
33.3
30.4
1020.1

-0.9
1.2
-1.2
0.5
0.8
-2.5
-0.8
-0.7
1.0
-0.1
-4.4
-6.2
-0.2
0.8
-1.4
-2.0
1.3
0.3
5.6
3.3
1.3
-2.1
1.8
4.5
3.4
-0.7
0.9
0.8
-0.7
-3.6

0.833
1.433
1.426
0.210
0.656
6.402
0.596
0.493
1.043
0.011
19.616
38.716
0.030
0.715
2.074
3.872
1.789
0.101
31.272
11.167
1.789
4.298
3.096
19.954
11.884
0.493
0.775
0.601
0.444
12.853
178.640

Number of Tests = 30
Maximum Strength = 39.6 MPa

Minimum Strength = 27.8 MPa

Mean Strength ( ) =
Sample Standard Deviation =
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According to ACI 318M-08 5.6.3.3 : No strength test falls below fc by

more than 3.5 MPa when fc is 35 MPa or less.
The specified strength fc = 28MPa

and all strength tests results > fc

except test No.12 = 27.8 MPa.

28.0 3.5 = 24.4 MPa

then 27.8 >24.4 or within the acceptable limit

of ACI .
Here we have 1 test from 30 falling below 28MPa and its percent = 3.34%
From table 4.3 (p.30) , z
fcr = fc + z s

(by interpolation)
(4-1b)

= 28 + 1.85 ( 2.482) = 32.591

32.6 MPa

OR : fcr = (fc 3.5) + zs

= ( 28.0 3.5 ) + 1.85 ( 2.482) = 28.977

29.0MPa

we suggest fcr = 32.6 MPa to produce an economical mix for similar

work with standard deviation of 2.482 MPa.

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Homework:
The following data represents the 28-day strength for the 25 strength tests
results of two records. The project specifications call for concrete with a
specified strength of 28MPa. Analyze results according to ACI 318M-08 and
ACI 214-02, and suggest a fcr to produce an economical mix for similar
work using statistical average standard deviation (pooled) and coefficient
of variation .

Test No.

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25

28-day strength, MPa

28-day strength, MPa

#1

#2

32.6
34.5
32.1
33.8
35.2
30.8
32.6
33.8
35.3
33.3
30.2
30.1
33.3
34.2
32.3
31.1
35.0
34.5
40.0
37.3
35.7
32.6
35.8
38.2
37.2

33.5
35.9
33.5
35.2
34.5
32.1
33.9
32.8
34.7
34.5
28.9
25.5
34.3
35.4
32.8
33.0
35.7
34.2
39.2
37.3
35.0
31.2
35.7
38.7
37.7

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