It is a pretty wide topic that can be answered in many ways, but the essential purpose of concrete testing is to check the performance of the concrete. Now, it can be perceived in many ways. For example, if we talk about the workability of the fresh concrete, site engineers perform the slump test to find out whether or not the concrete is in workable condition or not. Too much slump means concrete is not consistent and aggregates are not mixed properly, or water content is too high. Very low workability suggests that concrete cannot be used easily.

Similarly, there are tests to evaluate the compressive strength of the concrete, the quality of the concrete, and check the air content of the heat. As most people relate to concrete testing as compressive testing of concrete, in this post, we will look at the compressive testing of concrete and why it matters.

What is Compressive Strength Testing of Concrete?

The compressive strength test of concrete is a test used to determine the compressive strength of concrete. This test determines the maximum amount of compressive load a material a concrete sample can bear before fracturing.

 

There are two types of compressive strength testing of concrete: destructive and non-destructive.

Destructive concrete testing involves methods that destroy the sample to be tested. You may have seen the images of concrete cylinders in Universal Testing Machine where a load is applied on the sample to determine its compressive strength and eventually fracturing the sample. The cube method is the most commonly used method to test the compressive strength of concrete at various stages.

Non-destructive concrete testing involves methods that do not destroy the concrete sample. It involves surface methods like Windsor probe testing to determine the compressive strength of the concrete. In this method, a probe is inserted into the concrete with a known amount of force to determine the compressive strength of the concrete.

Why Does Concrete Testing Matter in Construction Projects?

Concrete testing helps determine the various properties of concrete. Here is why it is matter in construction projects:

 
  1. Concrete testing measures the workability of the concrete that helps site engineers ensure smooth construction operations.
  2. Concrete testing measures the compressive strength of the concrete that helps structural engineers ensure the stability of the concrete structure.
  3. Concrete testing helps find the delamination in the concrete. It helps in finding the hollow spaces in concrete and performs the patchwork.
  4. Concrete testing helps determine the quality of the concrete.
  5. Concrete testing helps to find the air content in the concrete that affects the performance of the concrete.

What is Concrete Insight?

Concrete Insight is a professional concrete scanning, concrete coring & concrete testing company specialized in concrete GPR scanning, concrete coring, windsor probe, crack monitoring, and anchor pull testing. We have more than 25 years of experience in concrete scanning and core drilling.