NCMA TEK

National Concrete Masonry Association

an information series from the national authority on concrete masonry technology

COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH
TESTING VARIABLES FOR TEK 18-7
Quality Assurance & Testing (2004)
CONCRETE MASONRY UNITS
Keywords: block-mortar strength, bond strength, eccen-
tric loads, moisture, stress distribution, testing

INTRODUCTION

Anyone engaged in testing concrete masonry units or items such as the requirements for the testing machine are
prisms, or interpreting test results, should be familiar with covered. The completeness of these test methods disallows
testing variables and their significance. Variables both prior much variation. Strict adherence to the laboratory proce-
to and during testing may significantly influence test results. dures outlined in this standard test method is critical to
Tests conducted to establish design criteria will affect the obtaining accurate results.
wall sections selected, and often will have a direct effect on Both the tester and the interpreter should have a working
the economics of the building. knowledge of the procedures in ASTM C 140, the effects of
Except for certain architectural facing units such as split test variables on results, and the requirements of the product
block and slump block, concrete masonry units are manufac- specification which establishes minimum criteria for the unit
tured to relatively precise dimensional tolerances. Because being tested.
of this, it might be assumed that the units are not sensitive to
variations during testing, although this is not necessarily true. VARIABLES
Changes in concrete masonry unit moisture content can
cause changes in the physical characteristics. Increases in Variables which may influence the reported test value
moisture content of concrete masonry units at the time of include the test specimen and its preparation, the physical
testing reduces compressive strength. Volume change can testing machine, the tester's use of the machine, the place-
also be influenced by the presence of moisture. Upon drying, ment of the specimen within the machine, plate thickness for
concrete masonry units undergo shrinkage. compression testing, and the testing procedure used.
These conditions, i.e., strength gain and volume change, Variables in the concrete masonry unit that can influence
may occur simultaneously during the test period. Conse- the test results include the moisture content of the concrete
quently, the effect of variables on the strength properties of masonry unit at the time of test and the geometry (shape) of
the unit should be known. Testing, per se, thus becomes a the concrete masonry unit.
conscientious effort to exclude known variables, adhere to
prescribed testing methods, and present true test results. Moisture Content of the Concrete Masonry Unit
This TEK discusses variables which may be encountered at Testing
during testing of concrete masonry units. The person per- The moisture content of the concrete masonry unit at the
forming tests, and the person interpreting results, should time of test may have a significant effect on the reported test
assure themselves that all necessary precautions have been value. Testing of concrete masonry at various moisture con-
taken to render variables insignificant, or preferably nonexist- tents, Figure 1, has demonstrated that moisture content may
ent. be responsible for a higher or lower reported test value.
Oven-dry units possess higher tested compressive strengths
APPLICABLE STANDARDS than their normal (air-dry) moisture content counterpart.
Conversely, concrete masonry units tested wetter than their
Compressive strength testing procedures for concrete normal counterpart yield lower compressive strengths. The
masonry units and other related products are covered by approximate twenty percent increase or decrease is signifi-
ASTM C 140, Standard Methods of Sampling and Testing cant. This finding strongly suggests that sampled units des-
Concrete Masonry Units. By reference to other standards, tined for compressive strength testing should be maintained

TEK 18-7 2004 National Concrete Masonry Association

 A concrete brick from the same mixture used
to produce a concrete block may have a higher
1.5 apparent compressive strength than its block
Relative indicated compressive strength

1.4 counterpart. The shape effect contributes as

Usual moisture content does the degree of consolidation during manu-
1.3 as delivered facturing and the effectiveness of unit curing.
1.2 ASTM C 140 includes h/t correction fac-
1.1
Range of results tors for segmental retaining wall unit speci-
mens with aspect ratios less than two. When
1 coupons are used as compression specimens,
0.9 they are cut at an h/t of 2, so correction factors
are not needed. Figure 2 illustrates the effect
0.8 Average of data
of aspect ratio on apparent compressive
0.7 strength of solid specimens. Hollow concrete
0 20 40 60 80 100
Oven dry Saturated masonry units are less affected by variations
Moisture content, %
in h/t. For example, research has shown little
change in apparent compressive strength when
Figure 1Moisture Content at Time of Test the unit height is reduced by one-third or less.

Tester Influenced Variables

in their as-received or as-desired moisture condition. To A laboratory technician may significantly alter the fail-
help ensure this, ASTM C 140 requires that units be stored ure compression test load, either consciously or uncon-
until tested in air at a temperature of 75 + 15 oF (24 + 8 oC) sciously. Technician procedural influences include: (1) se-
and a relative humidity of less than 80%, and not be subject to lection and maintenance of the physical testing machine and
oven drying. its accessories, such as bearing blocks and testing plates; (2)
The cause for this strength increase-decrease is attrib- selection of capping material and application of a proper cap;
uted to secondary hydraulic pressure which develops as the (3) the positioning of the specimen for test; and (4) the rate
unit and water within the unit are subjected to external of loading. Singly or collectively, these factors will influ-
pressure. The loads are additive, so higher moisture contents ence the failure load. It is of interest to note that these
yield larger strength reductions. Conversely, an oven-dry variables, with the exception of a rapid rate of loading, will
specimen possesses internal tensile strains, which must be cause a lower reported failure load.
overcome by compressive forces before the strains become Testing machines should conform to the requirements
compressive. of ASTM E 4, Practices for Force Verification of Testing
Reducing the moisture content of a specimen is even Machines. The verification of the testing machine occurs
more significant when testing involves tensile strength prop- under different loading conditions than those that prevail
erties, bond strength, or flexural strength. The strength during actual test. The accessories such as bearing block or
reduction is greatest at the early period after specimen plates, and thin plates which deflect during loading, cause the
relocation to a drier environment. Again, maintaining the same strength reduction discussed below for imperfect
test specimen in the steady or equilibrated state is the proper caps. Oil on the plates of the machine will also reduce the
way to conduct testing. failure load result.
The moisture condition of concrete masonry at the time Capping materials vary in composition and, conse-
of testing may alter the true load carrying capacity of the
unit.
Compressive Strength Normalized to

1.30
Geometry (Shape) of the Test Specimen
Any material being tested, using test sections with 1.20
Aspect Ratio of 2:1

various heights while maintaining a constant cross section,

1.10
will yield higher compressive strengths as the ratio of the
height to thickness of the specimen decreases. A tall speci- 1.00
men possesses a lower load carrying capacity than a short or
shorter specimen. Test specimens subjected to compressive 0.90
loads fail through a combination of compression and ten-
0.80
sion. Tall specimens are more sensitive to the influence of
0 1 2 3 4 5
tensile stress, while short specimens fail in bearing.
Although the general trend toward strength reduction is Apect Ratio of Test Specimen (h/t)
known, the height to thickness ratio (h/t) influence normally
used to identify specimen shape effects varies with aggre- Figure 2Effect of Aspect Ratio on Apparent
gate type, concrete masonry strength, moisture content, etc. Compressive Strength of Solid Specimens
quently, so does their modulus of elasticity. Approved (ASTM
C 1552 Practice for Capping Concrete Masonry Units and Table 1Checklist For ASTM C 140 Testing
Masonry Prisms for Compression Testing) capping com-
pounds include mixtures of 40 to 60% sulfur and ground fire Frequency of Sampling
clay and other suitable material passing a No. 100 (150 m) 6 units per first 10,000.
sieve or high strength gypsum cement. The use of alternate 12 units per 10,000 to 100,000.
materials should not be permitted. Fiber board or other 6 units for each 50,000 or fraction thereof for lots of
similar materials will compress more readily than their more than 100,000.
approved counterpart. Compressing the fiber board causes it
to spread laterally, inducing tensile stresses into the test Action Upon Receipt
specimen and resulting in a lower apparent compressive Place identifying mark on each specimen but not to cover
strength. The resulting strength may still allow product more than 5% of the superficial area of the specimen.
certification if the strength value surpasses the minimum Immediately weigh moisture control units.
specified value. Results can vary from twenty to forty per-
Capping Test Specimens
cent below the properly capped counterpart value. Because
Use rigid, smooth, level, and plane capping station.
the compression results are conservative, many block pro-
ducers use this less-labor intensive method as a means of
Sulfur Materials
assuring their compliance with specified minimum com-
Use mixtures consisting of 40 to 60 percent sulfur.
pressive strengths.
Capping surface to be plane within 0.003 in. in 16 in.
Capping materials that are not properly applied to the
(0.075 mm in 400 mm)
unit may be responsible for nonuniform stressing of the
Thickness of cap < 1/8 in. (3 mm)
specimen during loading. A fifteen percent loss in strength
Cool cap > 2 hr. Replace imperfect caps.
has been measured for units improperly capped.
ASTM C 1552 requires the capping plate to be plane and Gypsum Plaster
rigid enough not to deflect during capping. Deflection of the Plaster to have compressive strength >3500 psi (24.1
capping plate results in a crown on the testing surface of the MPa) at 2 hrs. when tested as 2 in. (51 mm) cubes.
units, leading to nonuniform load distribution and lower Average thickness of cap < 1/8 in. (3 mm)
apparent compressive strengths. One-half inch (13 mm) Age caps > 2 hrs. prior to testing. Replace imperfect caps.
thick glass plates placed on top of 1 in. (25 mm) thick steel
plates are recommended. The glass plates provide a smooth Testing Procedure
scratch-resistant replaceable wear surface while the steel Positioning of Specimens
plates provide needed stiffness to the capping station. Align centroid of bearing surface with load center.
Similarly, the steel bearing plates on the compression Cores of hollow units to be vertical except for special
testing machine must be rigid enough not to deflect during units intended for use with hollow cores horizontal.
testing. Small deflections, unnoticeable to the naked eye, Test all other units in direction as used in service.
will negatively impact test results. ASTM C 140 requires
that the steel bearing plates have a thickness at least equal to Speed of Testing
the distance from the edge of the spherical bearing block to Apply one half expected load at convenient rate.
the most distant corner of the specimen. This thickness must Apply remaining load > 1 and < 2 min.
be achieved by using a single plate having a width and length
at least 1/4 in. (6.4 mm) greater than the length and width of Applicable ASTM Standards
the specimen being tested. Stacking several plates to reach Specifications
the required plate thickness will be less rigid than a single C 55 Concrete Brick
plate of the required thickness. It is also required that the C 90 Loadbearing Concrete Masonry Units
bearing faces of the plates have a Rockwell hardness of at C 129 Nonloadbearing Concrete Masonry Units
least HRC 60 (BHN 620). C 936 Solid Interlocking Paving Units
Oil on the testing plates or platens of the testing ma- C 1319 Concrete Grid Paving Units
chine, or the capped surfaces of the test specimen, will also C 1552 Practice for Capping Concrete Masonry Units,
reduce the failure load. The oil lubricates the interface Related Units, and Masonry Prisms for Com-
between specimen and machine. The result is that the test pression Testing
specimen expands at the interface; tensile failure occurs E4 Practices for Force Verification of Testing Ma-
sooner and at a lower load. chines
Positioning of the test specimen within the machine can
have a significant effect on the failure load. For units that are Test Methods
essentially symmetrical the positioning is important, but to C 140 Sampling and Testing Concrete Masonry Units
a lesser degree than when unsymmetrical units are being C 426 Drying Shrinkage of Concrete Block
tested. The applied load of the testing machine should pass
through the centroid of the test specimen. Units tested with
 load than the less rapid or normal rate
Center of thrust of loading. Loading should occur at
ic some convenient rate to approximately
etr one-half of the expected ultimate load.
e om roid
G nte Thereafter the rate of loading should
Ce
be adjusted such that failure occurs
within the period from 1 to 2 minutes.

SUMMARY

The primary objective of testing

Non-uniform stress concrete masonry units is to establish
distribution in concrete product quality for acceptance and to
masonry unit
aid the design engineer toward selec-
tion of materials and their combina-
tion in the most economical wall sec-
Figure 3Center of Applied Load Not Colinear With Geometric Centroid
tion or structure. Unchecked variables
during product testing invariably in-
applied load other than at the centroid can provide an array of crease the cost of the wall. The effects of these variables will
reported values, Figure 3. Loads not applied through the be lessened by conforming with the requirements high-
center of mass of the unit results in lower tested strengths lighted in the checklist, Table 1.
and increased variability in results. Unless controlled, testing variables will influence tested
For masonry units that are symmetrical about an axis, strength properties of concrete masonry. Variables which
the location of that axis can be determined geometrically by will result in higher compressive strength include the geom-
dividing the dimension perpendicular to that axis (but in the etry (shape) of the specimen, rapid rate of load application,
same plane) by two. For masonry units that are and low moisture content at the time of testing. Other testing
nonsymmetrical about an axis, the location of that axis can be variables such as improper application of the capping mate-
determined by balancing the masonry unit on a knife edge or rial, high moisture content at time of test, use of "thin"
a metal rod placed parallel to that axis. If a metal rod is used, bearing plates, and improper positioning in the compression
the rod must be straight, cylindrical (able to roll freely on a machine, will reduce the failure load value. Both extremes
flat surface), have a diameter of not less than 1 /4 in. (6.4 mm) should be avoided.
and not more than 3/4 in. (19.1 mm), and it must be longer than Accurate and correct tested values are critical to ma-
the specimen. Once determined, the centroidal axis is to be sonry construction and design. Conservative results increase
marked on the end of the unit. the factors of safety for design, but may result in uneconomi-
cal construction. The cost required to resolve compounding
Speed of Testing errors in judgement resulting from inaccurate testing is
The compression machine operator can also influence much greater than the cost required to use and maintain the
the test value by altering the rate of loading. Generally, rapid right equipment and to properly train testing technicians to
loading of a specimen will yield a higher apparent failure understand the effects of those variables discussed here.

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liability for the accuracy and the application of the information contained in this publication.

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