METHODS OF TESTS FOR STRENGTH OF CONCRETE

Compressive Strength Definition:

Compressive strength is the ability of material or structure to carry the loads on its
surface without any crack or deflection. A material under compression tends to
reduce the size, while in tension, size elongates.

Procedure: Compressive Strength Test of Concrete Cubes:

DIMENSIONS:
For cube test two types of specimens either cubes of 15cm X 15cm X 15cm or 10cm
X 10cm x 10cm depending upon the size of aggregate are used. For most of the
works cubical molds of size 15cm x 15cm x 15cm are commonly used.
The procedure for compressive strength test of concrete or cube test is as follows:
1. Pour the prepared concrete mix in the steel cube mould for casting.
2. Once it sets, after 24 hours remove the concrete cube from the mould.
3. Keep the test specimens submerged underwater for stipulated time.
4. As mentioned, the specimen must be kept in water for 7 or 14 or 28 days and
for every 7 days the water is changed.
5. After the specified curing period [3, 7, 28, 56, or 91 days], specimens are
tested by the compression testing machine.

Purpose of Compressive Strength:

The purpose of concrete compressive strength testing is to measure the strength of
concrete and determine how much it can withstand a load. These tests are typically
conducted during the construction process.

SIGNIFICANCE:
• It is a measure of the performance and strength of a given concrete mixture.

• It helps in determining whether correct mix proportions of various materials

were used to get the desired strength