Compression & Brazilian

Tests
CEE 151C Lab

Objective:
The objective of this lab was to replicate the ASTM C39/39M Standard Test
Method for Compressive Strength of Cylindrical Concrete Specimens and the
ASTM C496/496M Standard Test Method for Splitting Tensile Strength of
Cylindrical Concrete Specimens. The concrete cylinders were tested for
strength and type of failure to characterize the concrete. The concrete
cylinders were tested after only 7 days of curing, so the measured strength
from the tests is only 60-70% of the complete strength of a 28-day cured
specimen.

Materials:

(6) concrete cylinders, cured for 7 days

Marker
Hammer
Blade
Scale
Measuring tape
Compression machine
Rubber plates
Steel plates

Procedure:
A plastic cylinder was placed on the floor and a blade was wedged
between the concrete and the plastic and worked in with a hammer under
the concrete separated from the cylinder as shown in Figure 1. This process
was repeated for all of the concrete samples. The cylinders were then
weighed on a scale, measured for diameter and height, and then a line was
drawn on the diameter of the specimen with the lines continuing down the
height of the cylinder to the bottom as shown in Figure 2. One specimen was
then tested for compression strength by being loaded into the compression
machine vertically between rubber and steel plates and secured as shown in
Figure 3. The machine was then turned on to induce loading. Once the
specimen failed, the machine was turned off, the flaws were outlined with a
marker as shown in Figure 4, and the failure load was recorded. This loading
process was repeated for two more specimens.
To replicate the splitting tensile strength test, one cylinder was loaded
horizontally into the compression machine between rubber and steel plates
as shown in Figure 5, and the machine was then turned on. Once the
specimen failed and split, the machine was turned off, the failure load was
recorded, and the specimen was extracted as shown in Figure 6. This process
was repeated for two more specimens.

Figure 2: Marked cylinders after weighing

and measuring
Figure 1: Extracting the concrete
cylinders from the plastic containers

Figure 3: Placing a cylinder for

compression strength test

Figure 4: Cylinder after compression

test being marked for deformities

Figure 5: Cylinder being set up for a

splitting tensile strength test

Figure 6: Cylinder after splitting tensile

strength test

Analysis of Results:
Specim
en
Numbe
r

Weig
ht
(lbs)

Failur
e
Load
(lbs)

Stren
gth
(psi)

12

27.4

80,615

2850

12

27.5

84,340

2980

12

27.1

86,760

3070

12

27.5

24,390

215

Tension

12

27.5

23,005

200

Tension

12

27.1

24,745

220

Diame
ter
(in)

Heig
ht
(in)

Compre
ssion
Compre
ssion
Compre
ssion
Tension

1
2
3

Type of
Test

Are
a
(in2
)

Notes

Type 6 failure; a lot

holes on surface
Type 5 failure; pres
of surface cracks
Type 5 failure; pres
of surface cracks
Holes on the surfac

More holes on the

surface compared
Specimen 4
Some holes on the
surface

With these results, it is conclusive that concrete is much stronger in

compression than in tension. The specimen has an average
compressive strength of 2970 psi and an average splitting
tensile strength of 210 psi. The splitting tensile test gives larger
results than direct tensile tests, but is used to determine the shear
resistance of the concrete and the amount of reinforcement needed for
the material.

Appendix:
Compressive Strength=

Pmax
A

Splitting Tensile Strength=

2 Pmax
ld

References:
ASTM International. ASTM C39/C39M-16 Standard Test Method for
Compressive Strength of Cylindrical Concrete Specimens. West
Conshohocken, PA: ASTM International, 2016. Web. 09 May 2016.
<http://dx.doi.org/10.1520/C0039_C0039M-16<
ASTM International. ASTM C496/C496M-11 Standard Test Method for Splitting
Tensile Strength of Cylindrical Concrete Specimens. West
Conshohocken, PA: ASTM International, 2004. Web. 09 May 2016.
<http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1520/C0496_C0496M-11<