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Relation between Physical and Mechanical Properties of Concrete Paving Blocks

Conference Paper · September 2015

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 The 2nd International Congress on Roads in Albania 24th‐25th of 
September 2015, Tirana‐Albania 
 
Relation between Physical and Mechanical
Properties of Concrete Paving Blocks
Fatlind Dervishi, Erion Luga
Department of Civil Engineering, Epoka University, Tirana, Albania

Abstract
This study investigates the relation between physical and mechanical properties
of concrete paving blocks using regression method of analysis. For this purpose,
112 samples of concrete paving blocks were selected from different sources.
The first phase included the determination of physical properties of the samples
such as water absorption, porosity and specific gravity. After that for each block
the tensile splitting strength test and the compressive strength test was
performed. The second phase included the regression method of analysis, a
linear regression is performed relating each of the physical property with
mechanical properties. An equation is obtained relating each property of the
paving blocks. The results show a strong relation between the physical and
mechanical properties.
Keywords: Concrete Paving Blocks, Mechanical Properties, Physical Properties,
Linear Regression

1. Introduction
Concrete Block Paving(CBP) is a unique, aesthetically attractive, functional and
cost effective material. Over the past two decades CBP has become a feature of
different cities around the world, although the first record of stone paving dated
back to 4000 BC in Assyria [1].
CBP is a system of individual shaped blocks which when arranged forms a
continuous hard wearing surface overlay. CBP has a wide range of applications
starting from roads, commercial projects, industrial areas to specialised
applications. Paving blocks can be found in different shapes and colours which
makes possible different pavement designs, the paving blocks can be arranged
in different patterns but based on tests and field observations it is accepted that
blocks laid in herringbone bond perform best under traffic loads [1]. The change
of colour or pattern of the paving blocks in intersections and pedestrian crossings
produces an audible change in road noise, thereby alerting the drivers that they
are approaching a intersection or pedestrian crossing, which is an advantage of
CBP in increasing the safety in the traffic.
Paving Blocks have multiple advantages which are: fast is assembling and
transportation, excellent drainage capacity, very good thaw and freeze
performance (major advantage for countries with four seasons), it is a labour
based construction which allows the community to be involved in the
construction, also it has a very low maintenance cost [2]. Whereas the
advantages of CBP over asphalt and rigid concrete paving are: high abrasion
and skid resistance, no damage from petroleum products, no damage from
concentrated point loads or high temperatures etc. [1]. These are advantages
which make CBP an ideal paving material.

 
 The 2nd International Congress on Roads in Albania 24th‐25th of 
September 2015, Tirana‐Albania 
 
The quality of concrete block paving depends the care taken in all aspects of the
production of the blocks, the preparation of the sub-grade, laying of the blocks
until the final compaction. The most used type of concrete blocks are Class 25
which have an average compressive strength of at least 25 MPa. Research has
shown that the structural performance of the pavement is dependent on the
degree of interlock, which spreads the load and is virtually independent of the
strength of paving blocks. Class 25 blocks should be specified for most uses, the
specifying of an unnecessarily high class will only increase the cost of paving
without improving its performance [3].
The main tests which are done in order to define the quality of a paving block are
the water absorption which is an important factor for the thaw and freeze
resistance, the porosity to which the water absorption is related and the specific
gravity which defines the quality of the aggregates used in the concrete block.
The mechanical tests are the compressive strength test which defines the load
carrying capacity of the paving blocks and the Tensile strength test which defines
the ability of the block to resist tension forces [2].
This study investigates a relation between the physical properties (Water
absorption, Porosity, Specific Gravity) and mechanical properties (Tensile
Strength and Compressive Strength) of concrete paving blocks. The study is
based on experiments conducted on samples of paving blocks taken from
different sources including 112 paving blocks. The correlation between the
physical and mechanical properties is obtained using the regression method of
analysis.

2.Methodology
For this study the concrete paving block samples are taken from 10 different
sources in Albania, this is in order to obtain a more accurate relation since the
fabrication of CBP differs from one source to another. A total number of 112
samples was collected with dimensions: 200x100x60 (mm). Each sample is
named with a code which indicates the source.

2.1 Determination Physical Properties

In order to obtain the physical properties (Water absorption, Porosity and Specific
gravity) tests were performed in accordance with BS EN 1338;2003. The
samples are first put in water for 24h at laboratory conditions at 20±10C, in order
to get saturated with water, after 24h their weight in water is measured using the
Archimedes scale where the samples are submerged 2cm in water, then the
samples are surface dried with a towel and then their weight is measured which
is the saturated surface dry weight (SSD), after this the samples are put in oven
at 1050C in order to get dried, the samples are left in the oven until constant
mass, for this purpose about 24h hours were needed, when the samples are
taken out of the oven they are left to cool down and their dry weight is measured,
in the end the dimensions of each sample is registered[4].

2.2 Determination of Water Absorption

The water absorption test was performed according to BS EN 1338. For each
sample the test was performed. The water absorption was found using the below
formula (1):

 
 The 2nd International Congress on Roads in Albania 24th‐25th of 
September 2015, Tirana‐Albania 
 
% ∗ 100% (1)

Where: % : Water Absorption (%)

: The mass of saturated surface dry of the sample (g)
: The completely dry mass of the sample (g)[4]

2.3 Determination of Porosity

It is known that the porosity is the ratio of the total volume of the sample to the
volume of pores. By substituting the masses obtained in the tests the porosity
can be found using the formula (2):

% ∗ 100% (2)

Where: % : The porosity (%)

: The mass of saturated surface dry of the sample (g)
: The completely dry mass of the sample (g)
: The weight in water of the sample (g)

2.4 Determination of Specific Gravity

The specific gravity is the ratio of the mass of the sample to the mass of water at
40C which fills the same volume. The specific gravity is obtained substituting the
values in the following formula (3):

(3)

Where: : Specific Gravity

: The completely dry mass of the sample (g)
: The weight in water of the sample (g)

2.5 Determination of Mechanical Properties

The mechanical properties of the samples are determined in accordance with the
standard BS EN 1338:2003. The mechanical properties found are the
compressive strength and the tensile splitting strength, both of them are
performed using the compression test machine. The mechanical test is
performed after the physical properties of the samples are obtained.

2.6 Determination of the Tensile Strength

The first mechanical test to be performed was the tensile splitting strength test.
The standard BS EN 1338 obtains the tensile strength by an indirect method
which is the tensile splitting test, the basic of the splitting test is the Brazilian split
cylinder test which is performed on concrete cylinders to obtain tensile strength
[2]. The test is performed using the compression test machine, in which the
tensile test apparatus is installed where the CBP are placed and loaded.
According to BS EN 1338 the load shall be applied along the longest splitting
section of the block and parallel to the block's edges[4], but in our case the load
is applied along the width at the centre length of the block, since during field
observations it is noticed that the blocks fail along the width not along the longest
side, this is one reason why the test is not performed as specified by the
standard, another reason is that for the same paving block the compressive

 
 The 2nd International Congress on Roads in Albania 24th‐25th of 
September 2015, Tirana‐Albania 
 
strength test is performed and only by this way two identical parts of the block
could be obtained.

Fig. 1: Actual field failing behaviour of concrete paving blocks due to tension
forces.
After performing the tensile splitting test, the load P (kN) is obtained from the
compression machine. The resisting area in the applied load is the width x
thickness. The formula for calculating the tensile strength is shown below (4):

Fig. 2 : Principle of testing for tensile splitting strength from BS EN 1338:2003

0.637 ∗ ∗ (4)

Where:
T: Tensile strength (MPa)
P: Measured load at failure (N)
S: Area of failure plane (mm2)
k: Correction factor(k=0.87) [2]

2.7 Determination of Compressive Strength

 
 The 2nd International Congress on Roads in Albania 24th‐25th of 
September 2015, Tirana‐Albania 
 
The compressive strength test of the samples was performed according to BS
EN 1338;2003. The two parts of the concrete block retained from the tensile
splitting test are tested in compression now. Firstly, the length of the parts is
measured then they are put in the compression machine and their load at failure
is registered [4]. The compressive strength is found using the formula (5):

(5)

Where:
: Compressive strength of the sample (Mpa)
P : measure load at failure (N)
A : Resisting area ( length x width)-(mm2)

3. Results and Discussion

After the test results of the physical and mechanical properties are obtained,
firstly the range of the values of each property is found:
 Water Absorption: 3.39%-14.02%
 Porosity: 7.74%-26.85%
 Specific Gravity: 2.42-2.70
 Compressive Strength: 4.62 Mpa-48.45Mpa
 Tensile Splitting Strength: 0.41Mpa-4.72Mpa

3.1 Correlation Between Physical and Mechanical Properties

The correlation between the physical and mechanical properties is obtained
using the linear regression method of analysis. By this method an empirical
equation is developed in which one property can be found in terms of another
property (if interdependence exists) [6]. The strength of the correlation is
determined based on the Correlation Coefficient (R); the values of R define the
interdependence of the properties [5]:
 if R<0.2- correlation is very weak (interdependence will not exist)
 if 0.2<R<0.4 - correlation is weak (interdependence will be weak too)
 if 0.4<R<0.7 - correlation is average (average interdependence)
 if 0.7<R<0.9 - correlation is strong (strong interdependence)
 if R>0.9 - very strong interdependence
3.2 Correlation Between Water Absorption and Compressive Strength
The relationship between the water absorption and compressive strength is
shown in Fig 3. After the linear regression is performed the determination
coefficient is obtained R2=0.7126 whereas the correlation coefficient R=0.8441 is
obtained, the result of the correlation coefficient shows a strong interdependence
of the compressive strength to the water absorption. The equation of the linear
regression line (6) is found, the standard error in the equation is 4.022. From the
graph in the figure 3 it is observed that with the increasing of the water
absorption the compressive strength decreases.

2.9337 ∗ 45.574 6

 
 The 2nd International Congress on Roads in Albania 24th‐25th of 
September 2015, Tirana‐Albania 
 
Water Absorbtion vs Compressive Strength
45.00

Compressive Strength (Mpa)
40.00
35.00
30.00
25.00
20.00
15.00
10.00
5.00
0.00
0.00 5.00 10.00 15.00
Water Absorption (%)

Fig 3: Water Absorption vs. Compressive Strength regression line plot.

3.3 Correlation between Porosity and Compressive Strength

Figure 4 presents the relationship between the porosity and the compressive
strength of the samples. The value of the determination coefficient is R2=0.7313,
whereas the correlation coefficient is obtained R=0.8551, which indicates a
strong dependence of the compressive strength with the porosity of the samples.
Observing the graph, the similarity of the water absorption vs. compressive
strength with the porosity vs. compressive strength graph is noticed, this is due to
the fact that the water absorption and the porosity are strongly related with each
other. The equation of the regression line (7) is found and the standard error is
3.889.

1.6976 ∗ 50.227 7

Porosity vs Compressive Strength
50.00
Compressive Strenth (Mpa)

40.00

30.00

20.00

10.00

0.00
0.00 5.00 10.00 15.00 20.00 25.00 30.00

Porosity (%)

Fig. 4: Porosity vs. Compressive Strength regression line plot.

 
 The 2nd International Congress on Roads in Albania 24th‐25th of 
September 2015, Tirana‐Albania 
 
3.4 Correlation Between Specific Gravity and Compressive strength
Figure 5 presents the relationship between the specific gravity and the
compressive strength. From the graph it is noticed that the relationship between
these two parameters is weak, this is also indicated by the values of the
coefficient of determination R2=0.0408 and the correlation coefficient R=0.201.
The equation of the regression line is obtained (8) and the standard error is
7.349. 26.04 ∗ 87.301 8

Specific Gravity vs Compressive Strength
50.00
Specific Gravity

40.00
30.00
20.00
10.00
0.00
2.40 2.45 2.50 2.55 2.60 2.65

Compressive Strengthn(MPa)

Fig. 5: Specific Gravity vs. Compressive Strength regression line plot.

3.5 Correlation Between Water Absorption and Tensile Splitting Strength:

Figure 6 shows the relation between the water absorption and the tensile splitting
strength. it is observed that as the water absorption increases the tensile splitting
strength decreases. The coefficient of determination is found to be R2=0.6136,
the correlation coefficient R=0.7833 indicates a strong interdependence of these
two parameters. The linear regression line equation (9) is shown below. The
standard error is 0.4025. 0.2276 ∗ 3.854 9

Water absorbtion vs Tensile Strength
5.00
Tensile Strength (Mpa)

4.00
3.00
2.00
1.00
0.00
0.00 5.00 10.00 15.00
Water Absorption (%)

Fig 6: Water Absorption vs. Tensile splitting strength regression line plot.

 
 The 2nd International Congress on Roads in Albania 24th‐25th of 
September 2015, Tirana‐Albania 
 
3.6 Correlation between Porosity and Tensile splitting strength
Similarly, like the W-T graph also the P-T graph has resulted, figure 7 presents
the relationship between the porosity and tensile splitting strength. The
coefficient of determination resulted R2=0.6235, the correlation coefficient
R=0.7896 which indicates a strong interdependence of the tensile splitting
strength with the porosity. It is observed that as the porosity increases the tensile
splitting strength decreases. The linear regression line equation (10) is shown
below, the standard error is 0.3967. Using equation (10) the tensile splitting
strength can be obtained from porosity.
0.1312 ∗ 4.2062 10

Porosity vs Tensile Splitting Strength
5.00
Tensile Strength (mpa)

4.00
3.00
2.00
1.00
0.00
0.00 5.00 10.00 15.00 20.00 25.00 30.00
Porosity (%)

Fig. 7: Porosity vs. Tensile splitting Strength regression line plot.

3.7 Correlation between Specific Gravity and Tensile Splitting Strength
A weak relation is obtained between specific gravity and tensile splitting strength
(Fig. 8). The determination coefficient R2= 0.0492, the correlation coefficient
0.2218. The equation of the regression line is found (11). The standard error is
0.615.
2.3908 ∗ 8.0223 11  

Specific Gravity vs Tensile Splitting Strength
5.00
Tensile Strength (Mpa)

4.00
3.00
2.00
1.00
0.00
2.40 2.45 2.50 2.55 2.60 2.65
Specific Gravity

Fig. 8: Specific Gravity vs. Tensile Splitting Strength regression line plot. 

 
 The 2nd International Congress on Roads in Albania 24th‐25th of 
September 2015, Tirana‐Albania 
 
4. Conclusion
The regression analysis shows a strong correlation between the physical and the
mechanical properties. A very good correlation was observed between water
absorption and compressive strength. As the water absorption decreases the
compressive strength increases. Also between the porosity and compressive
strength a strong correlation was observed, whereas no correlation was found
between the specific gravity and compressive strength.
The relation between the water absorption and the tensile splitting strength has
shown a strong interdependence between these two parameters, also between
the porosity and the tensile splitting strength a strong correlation was observed.
No correlation is found between the specific gravity and the tensile splitting
strength.
It is observed that water absorption, an easily to be determined property, seem to
correlate well with all the performance parameters. Therefore, it can be used as
rapid quality control parameter.

References:
[1] Concrete Block Paving, Book 1-Introduction, Concrete Manufacture
Association, Block D, Lone Creek, Waterfall Office Park, Bekker Road, Midrand,
South Africa, 2009
[2] Purwanto, Yulita Arni Priastiwi, Testing of Concrete Paving Blocks the BS EN
1338:2003 British and European Standard Code, Vol. 29 No. 2 Tahun 2008,
ISSN 0852-1697
[3] Concrete Block Paving, Book 3-Specifications and Installation, Concrete
Manufacture Association, Block D, Lone Creek, Waterfall Office Park, Bekker
Road, Midrand, South Africa, 2009
[4] BS EN 1338:2003, Concrete Paving Blocks- Requirements and test methods,
2003
[5] Jurgita Malaiškienė1, Evaldas Šemelis2, Giedrius Girskas3, Viktor Kizinievič4,
The Dependence of Physical Mechanical Properties of Concrete Pavement
Blocks on Coarse Aggregate Type, 1–4Vilnius Gediminas Technical University,
2014
[6] Allan G. Bluman, Elementary Statistics, 6th Edition, Chapter 10, page 527-
575, 2007

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