Proposed International Standard developing test method for concrete strength

[edit] Introduction

ASTM International’s concrete and concrete aggregates committee (C09) is developing a new standard for economical testing of concrete strength.

The proposed standard, WK82351, will provide a fast, simple, non-destructive method for testing concrete strength that can be performed almost anywhere. According to ASTM International member Neil Cox this method, which measures the dominant resonant modes of a concrete specimen, will provide benefits for many stakeholders in the industry.

“Manufacturers can improve their quality assurance, builders can optimize construction schedules, and laboratories can provide new services to augment existing methods,” says Cox. “Regulatory bodies will have a new strength testing method that can corroborate existing methods and provide testing that otherwise may not be viable.”

Cox notes, however, that the committee needs further data collection to validate and calibrate the method.

This effort directly relates to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals #3, #9, #10 and #11. Respectively, these goals address health, infrastructure, inequality, and city resilience.

[edit] Scope

(1) The assembling and study of data pertaining to the properties of hydraulic-cement concrete and its constituent materials, including the study of the effect of characteristics of materials and mixture proportions upon the properties of concrete; and (2) the development of standards for concrete and for the constituent materials of concrete (except cement), as well as for certain related materials, such as materials used in curing or repair of concrete.

The scope of the Committee does not include the field of design and construction of concrete structures except insofar as references need to be made to construction methods in special cases of concrete as “over-the-counter” material.

NOTE: In accordance with an agreement between ASTM and the American Concrete Institute (ACI), ACI will refrain from specification writing for “over-the-counter” engineering materials and ASTM will refrain from standardization efforts in design and construction practice.

[edit] Rationale

Data gathered through this test method can be used to produce estimates of compressive strength that are comparable to results from compression testing of CMUs and related units as described in ASTM C140/C140M. Similarly, data gathered through this test method can be used to produce estimates of compressive strength that are comparable to results from compression testing of cylinders as described in ASTM C39. It is quick and easy to perform, and facilitates qualification of various shapes and sizes of concrete specimens for non-destructive testing using acoustics.

The title and scope are in draft form and are under development within thi ASTM Committee.

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