BEHAVIOUR OF CONCRETE UNDER UNIAXIAL COMPRESSION

Determined by loading standard test cubes (150 mm size) to failure in a compression testing machine, as per IS 516 : 1959. Tested 28 days after casting (and continuous curing) The loading is strain-controlled and generally applied at a uniform strain rate of 0.001 mm/mm per minute in a standard test The maximum stress attained during the loading process is referred to as the cube strength of concrete. (fck & fcm) In some countries (such as USA), standard test cylinders (150 mm diameter and 300 mm high) are used instead of cubes. The cylinder strength is found to be invariably lower than the cube strength for the same quality of concrete its nominal value, termed as specified cylinder strength, is denoted by . fc

Characteristic strength is defined as the strength of material below which not more than 5 percent of the test results are expected to fall The mean strength of the concrete fcm (as obtained from 28-day compression tests) has to be significantly greater than the 5 percentile characteristic strength fck that is specified by the designer

Influence of Size of Test Spencime

height/width ratio and the cross-sectional dimensions of the test specimen have a pronounced effect on the compressive strength

Poissons Ratio
defined as the ratio of the lateral strain to the longitudinal strain, under uniform axial stress Poissons ratio have been obtained in the range of 0.10 to 0.30. A value of about 0.2 is usually considered for design.

Influence of Duration of Loading on StressStrain Curve

The standard compression test is usually completed in less than 10 minutes strain rate of 0.001 mm/mm per minute When the load is applied at a faster strain rate - the modulus of elasticity and the strength of concrete increase, although the failure strain decreases duration of loading is increased from 10 minutes to as much as one year or more there is a slight reduction in compressive strength, accompanied by a decrease in the modulus of elasticity and a significant increase in the failure strain

Maximum Compressive Stress of Concrete in Design Practice

The value of the maximum compressive stress (strength) of concrete is generally taken as 0.85 times the specified cylinder strength (fc) approximately equal to 0.67 times the characteristic cube strength (fck) The Code limits the failure strain of concrete to 0.002 under direct compression and 0.0035 under flexure.