Splitting Tensile Strength of Cylindrical Concrete Specimens1 This standard is issued under the fixed designation C496/C496M; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval. This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope* C670 Practice for Preparing Precision and Bias Statements
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the split- for Test Methods for Construction Materials ting tensile strength of cylindrical concrete specimens, such as 3. Summary of Test Method molded cylinders and drilled cores. 1.2 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units 3.1 This test method consists of applying a diametral are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in compressive force along the length of a cylindrical concrete each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each specimen at a rate that is within a prescribed range until failure system shall be used independently of the other. Combining occurs. This loading induces tensile stresses on the plane values from the two systems may result in non-conformance containing the applied load and relatively high compressive with the standard. stresses in the area immediately around the applied load. 1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the Tensile failure occurs rather than compressive failure because safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the the areas of load application are in a state of triaxial compres- responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- sion, thereby allowing them to withstand much higher com- priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- pressive stresses than would be indicated by a uniaxial com- bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. pressive strength test result. 1.4 The text of this standard references notes that provide 3.2 Thin, plywood bearing strips are used to distribute the explanatory material. These notes shall not be considered as load applied along the length of the cylinder. requirements of the standard. 3.3 The maximum load sustained by the specimen is divided by appropriate geometrical factors to obtain the splitting tensile 2. Referenced Documents strength. 2.1 ASTM Standards:2 4. Significance and Use C31/C31M Practice for Making and Curing Concrete Test Specimens in the Field 4.1 Splitting tensile strength is generally greater than direct C39/C39M Test Method for Compressive Strength of Cy- tensile strength and lower than flexural strength (modulus of lindrical Concrete Specimens rupture). C42/C42M Test Method for Obtaining and Testing Drilled 4.2 Splitting tensile strength is used in the design of Cores and Sawed Beams of Concrete structural lightweight concrete members to evaluate the shear C192/C192M Practice for Making and Curing Concrete resistance provided by concrete and to determine the develop- Test Specimens in the Laboratory ment length of reinforcement. 5. Apparatus 1 This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C09 on 5.1 Testing Machine—The testing machine shall conform to Concrete and Concrete Aggregates and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee the requirements of Test Method C39/C39M and be of a type C09.61 on Testing for Strength. Current edition approved July 1, 2011. Published August 2011. Originally with sufficient capacity that will provide the rate of loading approved in 1962. Last previous edition approved in 2004 as C496–04 ´1. DOI: prescribed in 7.5. 10.1520/C0496_C0496M-11. 2 5.2 Supplementary Bearing Bar or Plate—If the diameter or For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM the largest dimension of the upper bearing face or the lower Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on bearing block is less than the length of the cylinder to be tested, the ASTM website. a supplementary bearing bar or plate of machined steel shall be
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.
1 C496/C496M – 11 used. The surfaces of the bar or plate shall be machined to 7. Procedure within 6 0.025 mm [6 0.001 in.] of planeness, as measured on 7.1 Marking—Draw diametral lines on each end of the any line of contact of the bearing area. It shall have a width of specimen using a suitable device that will ensure that they are at least 50 mm [2 in.], and a thickness not less than the distance in the same axial plane (see Fig. 1, Fig. 2 and Note 1), or as an from the edge of the spherical or rectangular bearing block to alternative, use the aligning jig shown in Fig. 3 (Note 2). the end of the cylinder. The bar or plate shall be used in such manner that the load will be applied over the entire length of NOTE 1—Figs. 1 and 2 show a suitable device for drawing diametral lines on each end of a 150 mm 3 300 mm [6 in. 3 12 in.] cylinder in the the specimen. same axial plane. The device consists of three parts as follows: 5.3 Bearing Strips—Two bearing strips of nominal 3.0 mm (1) A length of 100-mm [4-in.] steel channel, the flanges of which have [1⁄8 in.] thick plywood, free of imperfections, approximately 25 been machined flat, mm [1 in.] wide, and of a length equal to, or slightly longer (2) A section, part a, that is grooved to fit smoothly over the flanges of than, that of the specimen shall be provided for each specimen. the channel and that includes cap screws for positioning the vertical The bearing strips shall be placed between the specimen and member of the assembly, and both the upper and lower bearing blocks of the testing machine (3) A vertical bar, part b, for guiding a pencil or marker, or between the specimen and supplemental bars or plates, when The assembly (part a and part b) is not fastened to the channel and is used (see 5.2). Bearing strips shall not be reused. positioned at either end of the cylinder without disturbing the position of the specimen when marking the diametral lines. NOTE 2—Fig. 4 is a detailed drawing of the aligning jig shown in Fig. 6. Test Specimens 3 for achieving the same purpose as marking the diametral lines. The 6.1 The test specimens shall conform to the size, molding, device consists of: and curing requirements set forth in either Practice C31/C31M (1) A base for holding the lower bearing strip and cylinder, (field specimens) or Practice C192/C192M (laboratory speci- (2) A supplementary bearing bar conforming to the requirements in mens). Drilled cores shall conform to the size and moisture- Section 5 as to critical dimensions and planeness, and conditioning requirements set forth in Test Method C42/C42M. (3) Two uprights to serve for positioning the test cylinder, bearing Moist-cured specimens, during the period between their re- strips, and supplementary bearing bar. moval from the curing environment and testing, shall be kept 7.2 Measurements—Determine the diameter of the test moist by a wet burlap or blanket covering, and shall be tested specimen to the nearest 0.25 mm [0.01 in.] by averaging three in a moist condition as soon as practicable. diameters measured near the ends and the middle of the 6.2 The following curing procedure shall be used for evalu- specimen and lying in the plane containing the lines marked on ations of light-weight concrete: specimens tested at 28 days the two ends. Determine the length of the specimen to the shall be in an air-dry condition after 7 days moist curing nearest 2 mm [0.1 in.] by averaging at least two length followed by 21 days drying at 23.0 6 2.0°C [73.5 6 3.5°F] and measurements taken in the plane containing the lines marked 50 6 5 % relative humidity. on the two ends.
FIG. 1 General Views of a Suitable Apparatus for Marking End Diameters Used for Alignment of Specimen in Testing Machine
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FIG. 2 Detailed Plans for a Suitable Apparatus for Marking End Diameters Used for Aligning the Specimen
7.3.1 The projection of the plane of the two lines marked on
the ends of the specimen intersects the center of the upper bearing plate, and 7.3.2 The supplementary bearing bar or plate, when used, and the center of the specimen are directly beneath the center of thrust of the spherical bearing block (see Fig. 5). 7.4 Positioning by Use of Aligning Jig—Position the bear- ing strips, test cylinder, and supplementary bearing bar by means of the aligning jig as illustrated in Fig. 3 and center the jig so that the supplementary bearing bar and the center of the specimen are directly beneath the center of thrust of the spherical bearing block. FIG. 3 Jig for Aligning Concrete Cylinder and Bearing Strips 7.5 Rate of Loading—Apply the load continuously and without shock, at a constant rate within the range 0.7 to 1.4 7.3 Positioning Using Marked Diametral Lines—Center MPa/min [100 to 200 psi/min] splitting tensile stress until one of the plywood strips along the center of the lower bearing failure of the specimen (Note 3). Record the maximum applied block. Place the specimen on the plywood strip and align so load indicated by the testing machine at failure. Note the type that the lines marked on the ends of the specimen are vertical of failure and the appearance of the concrete. and centered over the plywood strip. Place a second plywood NOTE 3—The relationship between splitting tensile stress and applied strip lengthwise on the cylinder, centered on the lines marked load is shown in Section 8. The required loading range in splitting tensile on the ends of the cylinder. Position the assembly to ensure the stress corresponds to applied total load in the range of 50 to 100 kN/min following conditions: [11 300 to 22 600 lbf/min] for 150 by 300-mm [6 by 12-in.] cylinders.
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FIG. 4 Detailed Plans for a Suitable Aligning Jig for 150 3 300 mm [6 3 12 in.] Specimen
FIG. 5 Specimen Positioned in a Testing Machine for Determination of Splitting Tensile Strength
8. Calculation where: 8.1 Calculate the splitting tensile strength of the specimen T = splitting tensile strength, MPa [psi], as follows: P = maximum applied load indicated by the testing ma- chine, N [lbf], T 5 2P/pld (1)
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l = length, mm [in.], and 10. Precision and Bias
d = diameter, mm [in.]. 10.1 Precision—An interlaboratory study of this test method has not been performed. Available research data,3 9. Report however, suggests that the within batch coefficient of variation 9.1 Report the following information: is 5 % (see Note 4) for 150 3 300-mm [6 3 12-in.] cylindrical specimens with an average splitting tensile strength of 2.8 MPa 9.1.1 Identification number, [405 psi]. Results of two properly conducted tests on the same 9.1.2 Diameter and length, in. [mm], material, therefore, should not differ by more than 14 % (see 9.1.3 Maximum load, lbf [N], Note 4) of their average for splitting tensile strengths of about 9.1.4 Splitting tensile strength calculated to the nearest 0.05 2.8 MPa [400 psi]. MPa [5 psi], NOTE 4—These numbers represent, respectively, the (1s %) and 9.1.5 Estimated proportion of coarse aggregate fractured (d2s %) limits as defined in Practice C670. during test, 10.2 Bias—The test method has no bias because the split- 9.1.6 Age of specimen, ting tensile strength can be defined only in terms of this test 9.1.7 Curing history, method. 9.1.8 Defects in specimen, 11. Keywords 9.1.9 Type of fracture, and 11.1 cylindrical concrete specimens; splitting tension; ten- 9.1.10 Type of specimen. sile strength
3 Wright, P. J. F., “Comments on an Indirect Tensile Test on Concrete Cylinders,” Magazine of Concrete Research, Vol 7, No. 20, July 1955, pp. 87–95.
SUMMARY OF CHANGES
Committee C09 has identified the location of selected changes to this test method since the last issue, C496–04´1, that may impact the use of this test method. (Approved July 1, 2011)
(1) Reversed the order of units in the test method so that SI
units appear first.
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