CHAPTER 16

DESTRUCTIVE TESTING: COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH TEST

16.1 Objective
The objective of this practicum is to determine the compressive strength of the
cylinder concrete sample at a specific age.

16.2 Basic Theory

Destructive testing is commonly used to determine the strength and durability
of concrete structures. In this test, concrete specimens are subjected to a series of
stresses until their compressive strength, tensile strength and other properties are no
longer measurable. This type of testing is important to ensure the safety and integrity
of concrete structures such as bridges, buildings and dams (Alexander & Mindess,
2005).
Concrete is widely used as a building material due to its high compressive
strength. The compressive strength of concrete refers to its ability to withstand
compression without cracking or breaking. This property is very important for the
durability and safety of concrete structures. The compressive strength of concrete is
determined by a standard test method known as the compression test. A cylindrical
concrete sample is subjected to a uniaxial compressive load until failure
occurs (Malhotra, 2004).
A common method of concrete fracture testing is compression testing. In this
test, cylindrical or cubic concrete specimens are loaded to compression failure. This
test determines the compressive strength of concrete, which is important in the design
and construction of structures. Another method is tensile testing, which measures the
strength of concrete under tensile stress. This test is used to evaluate the tensile
strength and resistance to cracking of concrete (Richardson, 2018).
Compressive strength of concrete is determined by several factors such as mix
design, water-cement ratio, curing conditions and age of concrete. Decreasing the
water-to-cement ratio increases concrete strength and increasing curing time and
temperature also increases compressive strength. In addition, aggregate size and type
also affect the compressive strength of concrete (Tang & Cao, 2019).

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Table 16.1 Ratio of compressive strength with age

Age (days) Ratio of Compressive Strength
3 0.4
7 0.65
14 0.88
21 0.95
28 1.00
(Source: ASTM C39)
In determining the compressive strength, the following formulas are needed:
π
A= 4 ×d2 ............................................ (16.1)
1000
F (kg)=F (kN)× ................................... (16.2)
g
F
f'c = A ............................................... (16.3)
f
28th day f'c = RCS×g
c
..................................... (16.4)

A = surface area (cm2);

d = diameter of sample (m);
F = maximum load;
f’c = maximum compressive strength of sample (kg/cm2);
RCS = ratio of compressive strength;
g = gravitational acceleration (m/s2).

16.3 Practicum Tools

The tools required for this practicum are as follows:
a. Digital Scale;
b. Compressive strength test machine.

Figure 16.1 Digital Scale Figure 16.2 Compressive Strength Test Machine

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16.4 Practicum Procedure

The sample must be prepared prior to the practicum as follows:
a. Take out the sample from the curing tub, and dry it in room temperature for ±
24 hours;

Figure 16.3 Dry the sample

b. Place the dried sample onto the digital scale, and record the weight of the
sample;

Figure 16.4 Weighing the sample

c. In order to achieve the maximum compressive strength, the sample needs to be

capped. There are two methods of capping a concrete sample.
• Sulphur Capping
o Melt the sulphur mortar in the melting pot at ± 130℃;
o Pour the melted sulphur mortar into the capping mold;
o Place the sample perpendicularly to the mold, and wait until the sulphur
mortar hardens, then remove the mold to result a sulphur capping on the
sample surface;
o Repeat the step above for other surfaces.
• Steel Capping
o Coat the inside of the steel capping using lubricant;
o Place the sample perpendicularly to the steel capping;
o Repeat the step above for other surfaces.
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The practicum procedure are as follows:

a. Put the sample into the compressive strength machine;

Figure 16.5 Putting the sample into the machine

b. Input the sample data into the compressive strength test machine software;
c. Run the compressive testing at 0.4 MPa to 0.6 MPa per second up to
approximately 1 MPa to the concrete sample;

Figure 16.6 Running the machine

d. Once the sample cracks, record the compressive strength shown in the
software.

Figure 16.7 Cracks on the sample

16.5 Practicum Results

16.5.1 Practicum Data
The following are the data of this practicum:
a. Diameter of mold (d) = 15 cm;
b. Height of mold (h) = 30 cm.

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Table 16.2 Compressive strength practicum data

Sample Sample Age Weight Compressive
No. Type (day) (kg) Stregth(Mpa)
3 11.29 3.909
7 11.29 6.352
1 Cylinder 14 11.29 8.600
21 11.29 9.284
28 11.29 9.773
3 11.56 3.577
7 11.56 5.813
2 Cylinder 14 11.56 7.870
21 11.56 8.496
28 11.56 8.943

16.5.2 Practicum Analysis

The following are the data of this practicum:
Table 16.3 Compressive strength practicum analysis
Sample A F F f'c f'c
28th day f'c
Age
No. (cm2) (kN) (kg) (kg/cm2) (MPa) (MPa)
3 69.080 7041.743 39.848 3.909
7 112.254 11442.833 64.753 6.352
1 14 151.975 15491.835 87.666 8.600 9.773
21 164.064 16724.140 94.639 9.284
28 172.699 17604.358 99.620 9.773
176.715
3 63.216 6444.014 36.466 3.577
7 102.726 10471.522 59.257 5.813
2 14 139.075 14176.830 80.224 7.870 8.943
21 150.137 15304.533 86.606 8.496
28 158.039 16110.034 91.164 8.943

The following are the calculations for Table 16.2 sample 1 at day 14:
First, find the area of the mold using the cylinder formula:
1
a. Area of mold (A) = 4 ×π×d2
1
= 4 ×π×152

= 176.715 cm2;
Determine the maximum load in kilograms by multiply the load value in kilo
newton by one thousand and divide by gravitational acceleration (g):
1000
b. F (kg) = F (kN)× g

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1000
= 152× 9.81

= 15494.4 kg;
Calculate the maximum compressive strength of concrete sample by divide the
loads (F)with area (A):
F
c. f’c =A
15494.4
= 176.751

= 87.680 kg/cm2 = 8.6 Mpa;

Find the f’c in 28th day by divide the maximum compressive strength with ratio
of compressive strength (RCS) and multiply with gravity per a hundred:
f'c 9.81
d. 28th day f’c = RCS × 100

87.680 9.81
= × 100
0.88

= 9.733 Mpa;
The following are the calculations for Table 16.2 sample 1 at day 7:
e. f’c = 28th day f’c × RCS7
= 9.733 × 0.65
= 6.352 Mpa = 64.753 kg/cm2 ;
f. F = f’c × A
= 64.753 × 176.715
= 112.254 kN.= 11442.833 kg.
There are the graphic result of relationship between compressive strength and
age from calculation above:

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Sample 1
12

10
Compressive Strength (Mpa)
8

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Age (day)

Figure 16.8 Relationship between compressive strength and age graph (Sample 1)

Sample 2
10
Compressive Strength (Mpa)

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Age (day)

Figure 16.9 Relationship between compressive strength and age graph (Sample 2)
The graphics show that the compressive strength from 2 samples are
continuously increasing from 3rd day until 28th day. The maximum compressive
strength is 9.773 Mpa and 8.943 Mpa.

16.6 Conclusions
The following are the conclusions of this practicum:
a. The compressive strength in 28th day of sample 1 is 9.773 Mpa;
b. The compressive strength in 28th day of sample 2 is 8.943 Mpa;

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c. the compressive strength will increase by time and reach its maximum strength
at day 28. After 28th day, the compressive strength will increase slowly.
d. The concrete result did not reach the designed compressive strength for 24
Mpa.

16.7 Error Factors

The following are the error factors of this practicum:
a. Poor aggregate gradation causing lack of resistance to cement;
b. Incorrect composition calculations lead to inappropriate material proportions
and cause less compressive strength;
c. The specific gravity of the aggregate is not good and not suitable;
d. Provide kiping when doing a compressive strength test so that when in the
process of pressing the load will be evenly distributed.

16.8 References
Alexander, M. G., & Mindess, S. (2005). Aggregates in concrete. CRC Press.
Malhotra, V. M. (2004). High-performance, high-volume fly ash concrete: materials,
mixture proportioning, properties, construction practices, and case histories.
CANMET, Natural Resources Canada.
Richardson, A. (2018). Understanding the tensile strength of concrete. Concrete
International, 40(7), 48-52.
Tang, L., & Cao, Y. (2019). Influence of aggregate properties on concrete compressive
strength: a review. Journal of Materials Research and Technology, 8(5), 5461-
5472.

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