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ISBN 978-0-626-27111-4
SANS 6253:2006
Edition 1.1

Any reference to SABS SM 1253 is deemed

to be a reference to this standard
(Government Notice No. 1373 of 8 November 2002)

SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL STANDARD

Concrete tests — Tensile splitting strength of

concrete

Published by SABS Standards Division

1 Dr Lategan Road Groenkloof Private Bag X191 Pretoria 0001
Tel: +27 12 428 7911 Fax: +27 12 344 1568
www.sabs.co.za
© SABS
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SANS 6253:2006
Edition 1.1

Table of changes
Change No. Date Scope
Amdt 1 2006 Amended to change the designation of SABS standards to SANS
standards and to update a referenced standard.

Acknowledgement
The SABS Standards Division wishes to acknowledge the valuable assistance derived from publications
of the following organizations:

The British Standards Institution

The International Organization for Standardization

Foreword
This South African standard was approved by National Committee SABS SC 59A, Construction
standards – Cement, lime and concrete, in accordance with procedures of the SABS Standards
Division, in compliance with annex 3 of the WTO/TBT agreement.

This standard was published in November 2006. This edition cancels and replaces the first edition
(SABS SM 1253:1994).

A vertical line in the margin shows where the text has been technically modified by amendment No. 1.

Reaffirmed and reprinted in March 2012.

This standard will be reviewed every five years
and be reaffirmed, amended, revised or withdrawn.
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SANS 6253:2006
Edition 1.1

Concrete tests — Tensile splitting strength of concrete

1 Scope
This standard describes a method of determining the tensile splitting strength of cylindrical, cubical and
prismatic test specimens of hardened concrete.

2 Normative references
The following standards contain provisions which, through reference in this text, constitute provisions of
this standard. All standards are subject to revision and, since any reference to a standard is deemed to
be a reference to the latest edition of that standard, parties to agreements based on this standard are
encouraged to take steps to ensure the use of the most recent editions of the standards indicated
below. Information on currently valid national and international standards can be obtained from the
SABS Standards Division.

BS 1881-115, Specification for compression testing machines for concrete. Amdt 1

EN 12390-4, Testing hardened concrete – Compressive strength – Specification for testing machines.
Amdt 1
SANS 5860, Concrete tests – Dimensions, tolerances and uses of cast test specimens.

SANS 5861-1, Concrete tests – Mixing fresh concrete in the laboratory.

SANS 5861-2, Concrete tests – Sampling of freshly mixed concrete.

SANS 5861-3, Concrete tests – Making and curing of test specimens.

3 Apparatus
3.1 Compression testing machine, that complies with the requirements of EN 12390-4, is of
sufficient capacity and has means of so effecting a continuous force without shock as to obtain a
uniform nominal increase in stress of 0,03 MPa/s ± 0,01 MPa/s (as calculated from the nominal
dimensions of the span and the test specimen). The rate of force application (in newtons per second)
can be calculated using the formula Amdt 1

(0,02 to 0,04) × π
2 × l × d

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SANS 6253:2006
Edition 1.1

where

l is the length of the specimen, in millimetres; and

d is the cross-sectional dimension of the specimen, in millimetres.

3.2 Jig, or centring device, of the type shown in figure 1, to locate the test specimen and the
application of the test load at the centre of each platen of the compression machine.

3.3 Packing strips, of hardboard or plywood, to be used between the specimen and the steel loading
pieces. Packing strips are of oil-tempered grade hardboard and are used once only. They have the
following dimensions (see figures 1(a) and (b)):

a) width a : 15 mm ± 2 mm;

b) thickness t : 4 mm ± 1 mm; and

c) length : not less than the length of the line of contact with the test specimen.

3.4 Steel load pieces, which are placed between each platen of the compression testing machine and
the packing strips. They are not shorter than the specimen. In the case of cylindrical specimens, the
load pieces are of rectangular cross-section and of width at least that of the packing strip. For cubes
and prismatic specimens, the load pieces are of a section of a cylinder, with a radius of 75 mm, so that
the load is applied along a line on the surface of the specimen (see figures 1(a) and (b)). The load
pieces can be incorporated within the jig. The contact faces of the load pieces are parallel and the
surface flatness, texture and hardness along the length are within the tolerances specified in
EN 12390-4 for auxiliary platens. The load pieces are replaced when the dimensions are out of
tolerance or when they are extensively damaged or pitted along the contact surface. Amdt 1

3.5 Moulds, as described in SANS 5861-3, that are capable of providing test specimens of which the
dimensions and tolerances are as specified in SANS 5860.

4 Batching, mixing and sampling of concrete

Batch, mix and sample the concrete as described in SANS 5861-1 or SANS 5861-2, as relevant.

5 Preparation of test specimen

Prepare and cure at least three test specimens as described in SANS 5861-3.

6 Procedure
6.1 Wipe the specimen free of surface water and grit, and remove projecting fins, and determine the
mass (to an accuracy of at least 1 %) of each specimen before testing it. Test each specimen
immediately after it has been removed from the water and while still wet.

6.2 Wipe the bearing surfaces of the compression testing machine and the steel load pieces and
packing strips clean.

6.3 Using the jig or load pieces (or both), place the test specimen centrally in the compression testing
machine with the packing strips carefully positioned along the top and bottom of the specimen in the
plane of loading (see figure 1). In the case of cubes and prismatic specimens, the load is applied to the
opposite faces of the as-cast specimen (i.e. not to the top and bottom), to cause the fracture plane to

2
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SANS 6253:2006
Edition 1.1

cross at right angles to the trowelled surface (see figure 2). When testing specimens, ensure that the
upper platen is parallel to the lower platen.

6.4 Without shock, apply and increase the load continuously at a nominal rate of
0,03 MPa/s ± 0,01 MPa/s (see 3.1), until failure occurs. Record the maximum load applied to the
specimen.

7 Expression and recording of results

Calculate the tensile splitting strength fct, in megapascals, using the formula

2F
f ct =
π × l × d

where

F is the maximum load at failure, in newtons;

l is the length of the specimen, in millimetres;

d is the cross-sectional dimensions of the specimen, in millimetres.

Calculate and record, to the nearest 0,05 MPa, the average of the results, as the tensile splitting
strength of the test sample.

NOTES

1 A test result is considered valid if the difference between the highest and the lowest result does not
exceed 15 % of the average. If this is not the case, regard the results as unreliable and investigate the reason.

2 If the apparent saturated density of the test specimens has to be reported, calculate it by dividing a specimen's
mass, determined in accordance with 6.1, by its volume, calculated from the dimensions.

8 Test report
Refer to this test method in the report and include the following information:

a) identification and the date of casting of the specimens;

b) the number, shape and nominal size of specimens;

c) the date of receipt of the delivered specimens;

d) the age of the specimens at test;

e) the condition of the delivered specimens (honeycombing, shape flatness, etc.);

f) the saturated mass of the specimens;

g) the apparent density of the specimens;

h) the date of the test;

i) the individual splitting strength at failure; and

j) the average splitting strength at failure.

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SANS 6253:2006
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a) Apparatus A for splitting cylinders

b) Apparatus A for splitting cubes and prismatic specimens

Figure 1 — Suitable jigs for tensile splitting strength test

Figure 2 — Plane of loading

© SABS

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