Characteristic Compressive Strength Acceptance Criteria as per IS456: 2000

Characteristic Compressive Strength Acceptance Criteria as per IS456: 2000


1.    Introduction

 

Strength of Concrete is commonly considered its most valuable property, although in many practical cases, other characteristics, such as durability and permeability may infact be more important.However,the strength of concrete is almost invariably a vital element of strength of structural design and is specified for compliance purpose.

 

2.    Characteristic Strength

As per Clause 6.1.1 of IS456:2000, the characteristic strength is defined as the strength of material below which not more than 5 percent of the test results arc expected to fall.

 

3.    Frequency of sampling

 

A random sampling procedure shall be adopted to ensure that each concrete batch shall have a reasonable chance of being tested that is, the sampling should be spread over the entire period of concreting and cover all mixing units.

 

The minimum frequency of sampling of concrete of each grade as per Clause 15.2.2 of IS456:2000 shall be in accordance withthe following:

 

Quantity of Concrete in Work(Cum)

Number of Samples

1 to 5

1

6 to 15

2

16 to 30

3

31 to 50

4

51 and above

4 plus one additional sample for each additional 50 Cum or part thereof

NOTE: At least one sample shall be taken from each shift. Where concrete is produced at continuous production unit, such as ready-mixed concrete plant, frequency of sampling may be agreed upon mutually by suppliers and purchasers.

 

4.    Sample and test Specimen

 

A sample shall have three test specimens. Three test specimens shall be made for each sample for testing at 28 days. Additional samples may be required for various purposes such as to determine the strength of concrete at 7 days or at the time of striking the formwork, or to determinethe duration of curing or to checkthe testing error. Additional samples may also be required for testing samples cured by accelerated methods as described in IS: 9103. The specimen shall be tested as described in IS: 516

 

 

 

5.    Test Results of Sample

 

·         The test results of the sample shall be the average of the strength of three specimens.

·         The individual variation should not be more than ± 15 percent of the average. If more, the test results of the sample are invalid.

 

6.    Acceptance Criteria for Compressive Strength

 

The concrete shall be deemed to comply with the strength requirements when both the following condition is met:

a)    The mean strength determined from any group of four consecutive test results complies with the appropriate limits (as per Table 11,Col2 of IS 456:2000) and

b)    Any individual test result complies with the appropriate limits in Col 3 of Table 11) as under:

 

Table 11 Characteristic Compressive Strength Compliance Requirement (Clauses 16.1 and 16.3) (Revised as per amendment No.4 in 2013)

 

Specified Grade

Mean of the group of 4 Non overlapping consecutive test results in N/mm2(Min)

Individual Test Results in N/mm2

(Min)

(1)

(2)

(3)

 

 

 

M15 and above

 

fck+0.825x established standard deviation(rounded off to nearest 0.5 N/mm2)

 

Or

 

fck+3

 

whichever is greater

 

 

fck-3 N/mm2

 

Note 1: In the absence of established value of standard deviation, the values given in Table 8 of IS 456:2000 may be assumed, and attempt should be made to obtain results of 30 samples as early as possible to establish the value of standard deviation.

Note 2: For concrete of quantity up to 30 Cum (where the number of samples to be taken is less than four as per the frequency of sampling given in Clause 15.2.2), the mean of test results of all such samples shall be fck + 4 N/mm2, minimum and the requirement of minimum individual test results shall be fck-2 N/mm2, minimum. However, when the number of sample is only one as per Clause15.2.2, the requirement shall be fck + 4 N/mm2, minimum.

 

 

 

 

Table 8 : Assumed Standard Deviation

 

Grade of Concrete

Assumed Standard Deviation N/mm2

M10

 

1.5

M15

M20

 

4.0

M25

M30

 

 

5.0

M35

M40

M45

M50

 

Note: The above values correspond to the site control having proper storage of cement; weigh batching of all material; controlled addition of water; regular checking of all materials,aggregate grading and moisture content; and periodical checking of workability and strength. Where there is deviation from the above, the values given in the above table shall be increased by 1 N/mm2.

 

7.    Acceptance Criteria for Flexural Strength

 

When both the following conditions are met the concrete complies with the specified flexural strength:

 

a) The mean strength determined from any group of four consecutive test results exceeds the specified characteristic strength by at least 0.3 N/mm2.

 

b)    The strength determined from any test result is not less than the specified characteristic strength less 0.3 N/mm2.

 

8.    Acceptance Criteria with Example

 

      Case-I: When number of sample is only 1(Concrete quantity 1 to 5 cum)

 

                  (Note: One sample strength consists average of three test specimens)

 

Minimum requirement of strength of sample=fck+4

 

Example-(a)

 

  If strength of three specimen of a sample of Concrete grade M-30 are as under:

 




 

 

 

 


Specimen-1                                 Specimen-2                          Specimen-3

35N/mm2,                                     33 N/mm2                           35 N/mm2

 

Mean of three specimen i.e. strength of one sample i.e.(35+33+35)/3=34.33 N/mm2 which is greater than  fck+4 i.e.30+4=34 N/mm2.

 

Therefore, concrete is acceptable.

Example-(b)

 

If the strength of three specimen of a sample of Concrete grade M-30 are as under:

 




 

 

 

 


Specimen-1                            Specimen-2                       Specimen-3

33N/mm2,                                33 N/mm2                        35 N/mm2

 

 

Mean of three specimen i.e. strength of one sample i.e.(33+33+35)/3=33.67 N/mm2 which is less than  fck+4 i.e.30+4=34 N/mm2.

 

Therefore, concrete is not acceptable.

 

 

Case-II: When number of sample is less than 4(Concrete quantity 6 to 30 cum)

 

              (Note: One sample strength consists average of three test specimens)

 

·         Requirement of Minimum individual test of sample=fck-2 N/mm2

 

·         Mean of samples=fck+4 N/mm2(minimum)

 

Example-(a)

 

If the strength or test result of three samples (9 specimens) of Concrete grade M-25 are as under:

 




 

 

 

 


 Sample-1                                      Sample-2                            Sample-3

28 N/mm2,                                     26 N/mm2                          23 N/mm2

 

Requirement of Minimum individual test of sample=fck-2 N/mm2 i.e.(25-2)=23 N/mm2.

 

All the three samples are fulfilling the criteria.Hence; strength is conforming individual strength criteria.

 

Mean of three samples= (28+26+23)/3=25.67 N/mm2 which is less than fck+4 i.e.25+4=29 N/mm2.Hence, strength is not conforming mean strength criteria.

 

Therefore, concrete is not acceptable.

Example-(b)

 

If the strength or test result of three samples (9 specimens) of Concrete grade M-25 are as under:

 




 

 

 

 


Sample-1                                       Sample-2                         Sample-3

29 N/mm2,                                    30 N/mm2                          29 N/mm2

 

Requirement of Minimum individual test of sample=fck-2 N/mm2 i.e.(25-2)=23 N/mm2.

 

All the three samples are fulfiling this criteria.Hence, strength is conforming individual strength criteria.

 

 

Mean of three samples=(29+30+29)/3=29.33 N/mm2 which is more than  fck+4 i.e.25+4=29 N/mm2.Hence, concrete is conforming mean strength criteria.

 

Therefore, concrete is acceptable.

 

 

Case-III: When number of sample is 4 or more (Concrete qty. 31 to 50 cum or more)

 

             (Note: One sample strength consists average of three test specimens)

 

·         Requirement of Minimum individual test of sample fck-3 N/mm2

 

·         Mean of the group of 4 Non overlapping consecutive test results in N/mm2(Min) fck+0.825x established standard deviation(rounded off to nearest 0.5 N/mm2) Or

 

fck +3 N/mm2

 

Whichever is greater.

 

 

Consecutive 4 non-overlapping test results (12 specimens) are depicted below:

 


5

4

2

 

 

 

 

                       Ist Set of four test results            IInd set of four test results   IIIrd set of four test results and so on      


Example-(a)

 

If Strength of four consecutive non overlapping samples of Concrete grade M-30 are as under:





 

 

 

 


                      Sample-1                    Sample-2                          Sample-3                 Sample-4

 

36 N/mm2                 38 N/mm2                         27 N/mm2                37 N/mm2

 

Requirement of Minimum individual test of sample=fck-3 N/mm2 i.e.(30-3)=27 N/mm2.

 

The strength of all the four samples are fulfilling the criteria.Hence, strength is conforming individual test criteria.

 

Mean of the group of 4 non overlapping consecutive test results, fck+0.825x established standard deviation (rounded off to nearest 0.5 N/mm2)

 

·         Mean of group of four non overlapping consecutive test results=(36+38+27+37)/4=34.50 N/mm2 ,which is more than the requirement of fck+0.825x established standard deviation( or assumed standard deviation as per table 8 above of IS 456:2000) i.e.30+0.825x5=34.125 N/mm2 =34 N/mm2(after rounding off)

 

·         fck+3= 33 N/mm2

 

 So greater of the above two values i.e. 34 N/mm2 shall be considered for acceptance.

Mean of group of four non overlapping consecutive test results is 34.50 N/mm2 which is greater than 34 N/mm2.

 

Therefore, concrete is acceptable.

 

9.    Conclusion

 

It is very important to maintain the desired quality of concrete as concrete production does not involve homogeneity. A good quality control from material management to placement of concrete to sampling and testing is required. Concrete production process is full of heterogeneity and therefore careful testing, assessment and analysis of all its constituents is required as all its constituents are of heterogeneous nature. The testing process of concrete material and the concrete can only be done based on sampling and the sample output is considered valid for the population.

 

Due care need to be taken during acceptance of concrete.The concrete sampling shall be done as per provisions laid down in IS456:2000 and concrete shall be accepted only after the concrete fullfills the acceptance criteria mentioned in IS456:2000(with up-to-date amendments).

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