Flexural Strength Test

CONSTRUCTION
MATERIALS
AND TESTING
LABORATORY TEST IN
CONCRETE SPECIMENS
Unit V
FLEXURAL STRENGTH TEST
(ASTM C78)
Testing objectives:
This test aims to determine the flexural strength of concrete
which may express as modulus of rupture. It also determines the
ability to withstand of structure in bending condition with
accordance to ASTM C78).
SCOPE:
This test is limited only in the road (supported by sub-base
coarse or unreinforced section) and beams that are subject for
application of bending load. The application of load is only limit
either for midpoint or third-point application. This test also
observes the proper procedure on how to conduct with respect to
ASTM C78.
APPARATUS REQUIRED:
1. Universal Testing Machine
2. Concrete Cylinder/Cube Specimen (Cured)
a) Fine and Coarse Aggregate
b) Portland Cement
c) Tampering Rod with hemispherical tip
d) Concrete Cylinder/Cube Mold
e) Bitumen Material/use oil/
3. Digital Weighing Scale (10kg. capacity-sensitive to the extent of
0.1% of total sample)
SAFETY AND PRECAUTIONS:
1. Before conducting test, use safety gloves, safety shoes & apron at
the time of test;
2. After test switch off the machine;
3. Keep all the exposed metal parts greased;
4. Equipment should be cleaned thoroughly before testing & after
testing; and
5. 5. Before conducting the test, make sure that no one is around (1-
meter radius from testing machine)
PREPARING CONCRETE
SPECIMEN AND TESTING
PROCEDURE
The following procedure was adopted in
ensuring that the data to be record from
flexural strength test specimens was taken
in an organized and consistent manner.
PREPARING CONCRETE
PROCEDURE
1. Prepare the rectangular concrete mold and
clean the internal and outside surface of the
mold;
2. Sample casting mold should be 15-cm width
x 15-cm height x 45-cm long rectangular
mold;
3. Apply some oil (bitumen material/motor
oil/crude oil is highly recommended) in
internal surface of the mold to avoid sticking
of cement paste;
PREPARING CONCRETE
PROCEDURE
4. Randomly get fresh concrete at the
first, middle and last discharge of the
mixture;
5. Make sure to hold tight handle of the
mold so that it will not move before
and after pouring of concrete mixture;
6. Pour the fresh concrete in the mold in
three equal layers;
PREPARING CONCRETE
PROCEDURE7. Each layer should be tampered circularly
25 times using tampering rod. Take note,
don’t let tampering rod to reach the
bottom surface of each layer, it can cause
segregation which may affect the output;
8. When the mold is completely filled with
concrete (completed 3 layers), hold the
tampering rod horizontally and roll it to
the top surface of the mold to ensure that
no excess of concrete will remain around
it;
PREPARING CONCRETE
PROCEDURE9. To prevent evaporation of sample, cover
the upper surface with glass plate;
10. The specimen shall be stored at the
laboratory (or in any room with same
temperature) for 24hr and 30mins under
curing (use matting method);
11. After that, demold the sample into the
mold and submerge it into potable/clean
water at 27ºC+2ºC until time of test;
PREPARING CONCRETE
PROCEDURE12. Make sure that the head of the water
surface and top surface of the mold
should not be greater than 50mm;
13. When the testing day comes, remove
the specimen from the water and
conduct testing while the specimen is
in wet condition;
14. Make sure that the Universal Testing
Machine is clean before conducting
test;
PREPARING CONCRETE
PROCEDURE 15. Remove any unnecessary material in
the bearing surface of the loading and
supporting roller and clean the surface
of the specimen where loading roller
will be place.
16. Place the cured specimen in the
support surface that is centered to the
longitudinal axis. The distance of
support surface and the end surface
specimen should be at least 50mm
apart.
PREPARING CONCRETE
PROCEDURE 17. The load shall be applied slowly at a
rate of 125 𝑡𝑜 175 𝑝𝑠𝑖/ 𝑚𝑖𝑛 until the
specimen breaks (observe the line graph
in the monitor);
18. When specimen breaks, stop the
operation of the machine and remove
the unnecessary debris under break
specimen; and
19. Take a photo on the break specimen
and record all the data in the monitor.
EXAMPLE OF DETAILS OF CONCRETE
MIX DESIGN USE IN FLEXURAL
STRENGTH TEST
DESIGNE
CLASS OF VOLUME VOLUME
CEMENT D SIZE
CONCRET OF FINE OF COARSE
CONTEN OF
SAMPL E AGGREGAT AGGRREGA
T (CC) AGGREG
E NO. MIXTURE E (VFA) TE (VCA)
ATE
m³ m³ kg mm.
1 A 0.0075 0.0117 50 25
2 A 0.008 0.0124 50 25
3 A 0.009 0.0140 50 25
EXAMPLE OF FLEXURAL
STRENGTH TEST RESULT
ACQUIRED
DIMENSION NO. OF CORRE-
IDENTI FLEXURAL
OF THE DAYS LATION Remarks
NO. FICATION STRENGTH
SPECIMEN) CURED FACTOR (CF)
(AFS)
(days) (%) MPa (psi)

150mm x
1 BEAM 1 150mm x 7 81.82 4.25 (600) Passed
510mm
150mm x
2 BEAM 2 150mm x 10 91.92 3.10 (450) Failed
510mm
150mm x
3 BEAM 3 150mm x 14 100 6.90 (1,000) Passed
510mm
14-DAY CONCRETE BEAM MIX DESIGN
STRENGTH PROJECTION (MID-POINT
LOADING)
14-DAY CONCRETE BEAM MIX DESIGN
STRENGTH PROJECTION (MID-POINT
LOADING)(TABLE 7.2)
Assuming that required and acquired
flexural of concrete specimen should
always be the same or to make it the
same value are being common but not
correct practice of technician and civil
engineers too. Possible lapses or
having a deceptive result may arise
too.
Let’s cite some example, we have one
(1) concrete specimen that is made from
28-Days Mix Design. The 28th day
concrete specimen should have a 100%
required flexural strength of 550psi and
the strength projection in 14th day must
be 550psi also.
Unfortunately, again, the specimen is needed
to be test on its 7th day. Half of required curing
days. Will you reflect that its psi is 550 still?
Take note that you can never get the same
strength, do not expect the strength to just half
of originally 14days mix design. Strength
projection again should be done using the
correlation-factor based on respective cured
days prior to testing stated in Table 7.2. From
550psi(100%), the required will be 469psi
CALCULATION
Calculate the Volume of the Fine Aggregate:
Calculate the Volume of the Coarse Aggregate.
Calculate the Water – Cement Content Ratio.

CALCULATION
Calculate the Required Flexural Strength:
Determine if the Flexural Strength of structure is passed or failed.

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CONSTRUCTION

(days) (%) MPa (psi)

Calculate the Volume of the Coarse Aggregate.

Calculate the Water – Cement Content Ratio.

Determine if the Flexural Strength of structure is passed or failed.

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