We place an awful lot of trust in concrete.
Buildings, walkways, highways…what would this world be without concrete? We take it for granted; however, concrete plays a major role in our daily lives. To gain an understanding as to how concrete can hold such incredible amounts of weight and last for so long, it helps to know how its strength is measured.
It’s one thing to test a new batch of concrete, but it’s another to test concrete that is already part of an existing structure. These specific tests either require a careful extract of a concrete specimen or the use of unique measuring tools.
Traditional compression testing can still be done, though, it is quite challenging. Part of the concrete structure would have to be prepped and sawed. The professional would have to determine which part of the concrete is safe to be removed, in order to guarantee no damage to the structure itself. Once removed, the compression test can be completed in the same way as previously mentioned. The results from this method are the most accurate, but the riskiest. Of course, only professionals should attempt this method.
Different ways to measure concrete strength
The traditional and most accurate way
Compressive testing is the surefire way to measure concrete strength. Precisely, a cylindrical specimen is selected for the testing, either 6 by 12 inches in size or 4 by 8 inches. The specimen is placed into the compressor and compressed. The strength is determined by dividing the load at failure by the average cross-sectional area. Ideally, concrete’s compressive strength should range between 2500 psi and 4000 psi. Residential concrete will weigh towards the lower end of psi, while commercial concrete will weigh on the higher end.Compression testing on existing structures
