Designation: C 116 - 90 AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTlN~
American AsS0dauoll state
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Standard Test Method for
Compressive Strength of concrete Using Portions of
Beams Broken in Flexure
This standardis issued under the fixed designationC 116;the numberimmediatelyfollowingthe designationindicatesthe year of
originaladoptionor, in the case of revision,the yearof last revision.A numberin parenthesesindicate-sthe yearof last reapproval.A
superscriptepsilon (6)indicatesan editorialchangesince the last revisionor reapprowl.
1. Scope
1.1 This test method covers determination of the com-
pressive strength of concrete, using portions of beams broken
in flexure for the test specimens.
NOTE l-This test method was originally developed to cover testing
portions of beams having a square cross section as modified cubes and
former versions of this procedure were subtitled Modified Cube
Method. This terminology no longer applies because beams of rcctan-
gular cross section may be tested as provided under 6.1,
NOTE2-For methods of making flexural test specimens from which
the specimens for this method may be obtained, refer to Practice C 3 1,
Test Method C 42, and Practice C 192.
NOTE3-For methods of making the flexural strength test, refer to
Test Method C 78, and Test Method C 293.
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be
regarded as the standard.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address the safety
problems associated withits use. It is the responsibilityof the
user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and
health practices and determine the applicabilityof regulatory
limitationsprior to use.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C 31 Practice for Making and Curing Concrete Test
Specimens in the Field
C 39 Test Method for Compressive Strength of Cylindrical
Concrete Specimens
C 42 Test Method for Obtaining and Testing Drilled Cores
and Sawed Beams of Concrete*
C 78 Test Method for Flexural Strength of Concrete
(Using Simple Beam with Third-Pdint Loading)*
C 192 Practice for Making and Curing Concrete Test
Specimens in the Laboratory
C 293 Test Method for Flexural Strength of Concrete
(Using Simple Beam with Center-Point LoadingI
C 617 Practice for Capping Cylindrical Concrete
Specimens
E 4 Practices for Load Verification of Testing Machines*
3. Significance and Use
3.1 This test method is intended for use in the laboratory
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C-9 on
Concreteand ConcreteAggregatesand is the directresponsibilityof Subcommittee
CU9.03.01on Methodsof TestingConcretefor Strength.
Current edition approved October 26, 1990. Published December 1990.
Originallypublishedas C 116- 35 T. Last previousedition C I16 - 89.
zAnnitalBookof ASTM Slondards,VolO4.02.
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and as a research tool for determining relative compressive
strength values for various concrete mixtures. It is not
intended as an alternative for Test Method C 39, and the test
values obtained by these two test methods are not inter-
changeable and not necessarily comparable.
4. Apparatus
4.1 The testing machine may be of any type of sufficient
capacity which will provide the rate of loading prescribed in
6.3. It shall conform to the requirements of the sections on
Basis of Verification, Corrections, and Time Interval Be-
tween Verifications of Practices E 4. The testing machine
shall be equipped with two steel bearing blocks with hard-
ened faces (Note 4), one of which is a spherically seated block
that will bear on the top bearing plate described in 4.2; and
the other a plain rigid block that will support the bottom
bearing plate described in 4.2. The diameter of the spherical
bearing block shall be at least 75 % of the width (B, Fig. 1) of
the specimen. The bearing faces shall not depart from a plane
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by more than 0.00 1 in. (0.025 mm) in any 6 in. (152 mm) for
a block 6 in. ( 152 mm) in diameter or larger, or by more than
0.001 in. in the diameter of any smaller block; new blocks
shall be manufactured within one half of this tolerance.
NOTE 4-b is desirable that the bearing faces of blocks used for
compression testing of concrete have a Rockwell hardness of not less
than HRC 60.
4.2 Machined or ground metal bearing plates not less than
3/4 in. (19 mm) in thickness, that meet the planeness
requirements for the bearing faces of specimens specified in
5.2.1 and the hardness requirements for bearing blocks
specified in 4.1, shall be mounted on the bearing surfaces of
the specimen. The bearing plates shall be of such dimensions
that the contact faces shall be substantially square and shall
have the same dimensions as the nominal width of the beam
tested. The upper bearing plate shall be placed directly over
the lower plate. A drawing of a satisfactory device designed
to ensure the proper location of the upper plate with
reference to the lower plate is shown in Fig. 1. The bearing
faces shall not depart from a plane by more than 0.001 in.
(0.025 mm) in 6 in. (152 mm), and new bearing plates shall
be manufactured within one half of this tolerance.
5. Test Specimens.
5.1 The length of broken portions of beams selected for
the compression test shall be at least 2 in. (50 mm) greater
than the width. The selected compression test section shall be
free of cracks, chipped surfaces, and other obvious defects,
5.2 Preparation of Test Specimens:
1
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 ASTM CLLb 70 m 07&O 0065028 b m

BOSS Wdded t0 BeOrln9 Phte

to Keep Plate In Aligr&nt
Tap Bearing Plate
I

Width Equals
Approximately 1/2(12mm)
Guide Supports Welded Clearance on Each Side
to Bottom Bearing Plate

FIG. 1 Device Suitable for Aligning Bearing Plates

5.2.1 The bearing faces of the specimen shall not depart the specimen as the average of at least two measurements of
from a plane by more than 0.002 in. (0.05 mm); bearing the B dimensions (Fig. 1) of both the top and bottom
faces that are not plane shall be ground or capped to meet the bearing plates multiplied by the average of at least two
0.002~in. tolerance, Capping procedures shall follow the measurements of the B dimensions of both the top and
applicable provisions of Practice C 6 17. Caps shall cover the bottom bearing surfaces of the specimen determined to the
full width of the beam and shall be of such length as to nearest 0.01 in. (0.25.mm),
permit the adjustment of the bearing plates for the test so
that the upper bearing plate may be aligned directly above 8. Report
the lower bearing plate (Fig. 1).
5.2.2 During the interval between testing of specimens in 8.1 Report the following information:
flexure, or after capping, and testing the broken portions in 8.1.1 That the determination was made using this test
compression, the specimens shall be kept in the same condi- method,
tion as prescribed under the method for making and curing 8.1.2 Specimen identification number,
flexural test specimens from which the specimens for this test 8.1.3 B and Ddimensions in inches (or millimetres),
were obtained. 8.1.4 Cross-sectional area, in square inches (or square
millimetres),
6. Procedure 8.1.5 Maximum load, in pounds-force (newtons),
6.1 Orientation of the specimen shall be such that the 8.1.6 Compressive strength calculated to the nearest 10
width (B in Fig. 1) shall be equal to or less than the height (D psi (69 kPa),
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in Fig. 1). If the beam has a square cross section the bearing 8.1.7 Method of obtaining the specimen,
surfaces may be the sides of the beam as originally cast, 8.1,8 Age of the specimen and the details of curing,
6.2 Center the bearing plates in the testing machine so 8.1.9 Orientation of the specimen with respect to the top
that the thrust of the spherically seated block of the test of the beam as cast,
machine is aligned with the center of the bearing plates. 8. I. 10 Type of failure and appearance of concrete, and
Apply the load to the bearing plates by means of an 8.1.11 Conditions of curing the specimens and the mois-
adjustable head. ture condition at the time of test.
6.3 Rate of Loading-Apply the load continuously and
without shock. The moving head of the screw type of testing 9. Precision and Bias
machine shall travel at the rate of approximately 0.05 9.1 The precision of this test method has not been
in./min (1.3 mm/min) when the machine is running idle. In determined, but data are being collected and a precision
hydraulic machines, adjust the loading to a constant rate statement will be included when it is developed.
within the limits of 35 & 15 psi/s (241 + 104 kPa/s). 9.2 No statement concerning bias is being made at this
6.4 Test specimens to failure. Record the total load indi- time.
cated by the testing machine at failure of the test specimen.
7. Calculation 10. Keywords
7.1 Calculate the unit compressive strength calculated to 10.1 compressive strength; concrete; flexural beams;
the nearest 10 psi (69 kPa). Take the cross-sectional area of strength testing

2
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 ASTM ClLb 90 m 0759530 OOb5029 8 m
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3
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No reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS Not for Resale, 06/10/2010 01:14:40 MDT