ASTM C31/C31M-15a

Standard Practice for Making and Curing Concrete Test Specimens in the Field

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 This practice provides standardized requirements for making, curing, protecting, and transporting concrete test specimens under field conditions.  
4.2 If the specimens are made and standard cured, as stipulated herein, the resulting strength test data when the specimens are tested are able to be used for the following purposes:  
4.2.1 Acceptance testing for specified strength,  
4.2.2 Checking adequacy of mixture proportions for strength, and  
4.2.3 Quality control.  
4.3 If the specimens are made and field cured, as stipulated herein, the resulting strength test data when the specimens are tested are able to be used for the following purposes:  
4.3.1 Determination of whether a structure is capable of being put in service,  
4.3.2 Comparison with test results of standard cured specimens or with test results from various in-place test methods,  
4.3.3 Adequacy of curing and protection of concrete in the structure, or  
4.3.4 Form or shoring removal time requirements.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers procedures for making and curing cylinder and beam specimens from representative samples of fresh concrete for a construction project.  
1.2 The concrete used to make the molded specimens shall be sampled after all on-site adjustments have been made to the mixture proportions, including the addition of mix water and admixtures. This practice is not satisfactory for making specimens from concrete not having measurable slump or requiring other sizes or shapes of specimens.  
1.3 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in non-conformance with the standard.  
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. (Warning—Fresh hydraulic cementitious mixtures are caustic and may cause chemical burns to exposed skin and tissue upon prolonged exposure.2)  
1.5 The text of this standard references notes which provide explanatory material. These notes shall not be considered as requirements of the standard.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 14-Nov-2015
• ICS: 91.100.30 - Concrete and concrete products
• Technical Committee: C09 - Concrete and Concrete Aggregates
• Drafting Committee: C09.61 - Testing for Strength

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM C31/C31M-15ae1 - Standard Practice for Making and Curing Concrete Test Specimens in the Field
• Effective Date: 15-Nov-2015

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: C31/C31M − 15a
StandardPractice for
1
Making and Curing Concrete Test Specimens in the Field
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C31/C31M; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope* C125 Terminology Relating to Concrete and Concrete Ag-
gregates
1.1 This practice covers procedures for making and curing
C138/C138M Test Method for Density (Unit Weight),Yield,
cylinder and beam specimens from representative samples of
and Air Content (Gravimetric) of Concrete
fresh concrete for a construction project.
C143/C143M Test Method for Slump of Hydraulic-Cement
1.2 The concrete used to make the molded specimens shall
Concrete
be sampled after all on-site adjustments have been made to the
C172/C172M Practice for Sampling Freshly Mixed Con-
mixture proportions, including the addition of mix water and
crete
admixtures. This practice is not satisfactory for making speci-
C173/C173M Test Method forAir Content of Freshly Mixed
mens from concrete not having measurable slump or requiring
Concrete by the Volumetric Method
other sizes or shapes of specimens.
C231/C231M Test Method forAir Content of Freshly Mixed
Concrete by the Pressure Method
1.3 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units
are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in C330/C330M Specification for Lightweight Aggregates for
Structural Concrete
each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each
system shall be used independently of the other. Combining C403/C403M Test Method for Time of Setting of Concrete
Mixtures by Penetration Resistance
values from the two systems may result in non-conformance
with the standard. C470/C470M Specification for Molds for Forming Concrete
Test Cylinders Vertically
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
C511 Specification for Mixing Rooms, Moist Cabinets,
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
Moist Rooms, and Water Storage Tanks Used in the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
Testing of Hydraulic Cements and Concretes
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
C617/C617M Practice for Capping Cylindrical Concrete
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. (Warning—Fresh
Specimens
hydraulic cementitious mixtures are caustic and may cause
C1064/C1064M Test Method for Temperature of Freshly
chemical burns to exposed skin and tissue upon prolonged
2 Mixed Hydraulic-Cement Concrete
exposure. )
C1077 Practice forAgencies Testing Concrete and Concrete
1.5 The text of this standard references notes which provide
Aggregates for Use in Construction and Criteria for
explanatory material. These notes shall not be considered as
Testing Agency Evaluation
requirements of the standard.
4
2.2 American Concrete Institute Publication:
309R Guide for Consolidation of Concrete
2. Referenced Documents
3
2.1 ASTM Standards:
3. Terminology
3.1 For definitions of terms used in this practice, refer to
1
Terminology C125.
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C09 on Concrete
and Concrete Aggregates and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C09.61
on Testing for Strength.
4. Significance and Use
Current edition approved Nov. 15, 2015. Published January 2016. Originally
approved in 1920. Last previous edition approved in 2015 as C31/C31M–15. DOI: 4.1 This practice provides standardized requirements for
10.1520/C0031_C0031M-15A.
making, curing, protecting, and transporting concrete test
2
See Section on Safety Precautions, Manual ofAggregate and Concrete Testing,
specimens under field conditions.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol. 04.02.
3
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
4
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Available fromAmerican Concrete Institute (ACI), P.O. Box 9094, Farmington
the ASTM website. Hills, MI 48333-9094, http://www.aci-int.org.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
C31/C31M − 15a
4.2 If the specimens are made and standard cured, as greater than the depth of the mold in which rodding is being
stipulated herein, the resulting strength test data when the performed, but not greater than 600 mm [24 in.] in ov
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: C31/C31M − 15 C31/C31M − 15a
Standard Practice for
1
Making and Curing Concrete Test Specimens in the Field
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C31/C31M; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope*
1.1 This practice covers procedures for making and curing cylinder and beam specimens from representative samples of fresh
concrete for a construction project.
1.2 The concrete used to make the molded specimens shall be sampled after all on-site adjustments have been made to the
mixture proportions, including the addition of mix water and admixtures. This practice is not satisfactory for making specimens
from concrete not having measurable slump or requiring other sizes or shapes of specimens.
1.3 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each
system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the
two systems may result in non-conformance with the standard.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use. (Warning—Fresh hydraulic cementitious mixtures are caustic and may cause chemical burns to exposed
2
skin and tissue upon prolonged exposure. )
1.5 The text of this standard references notes which provide explanatory material. These notes shall not be considered as
requirements of the standard.
2. Referenced Documents
3
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C125 Terminology Relating to Concrete and Concrete Aggregates
C138/C138M Test Method for Density (Unit Weight), Yield, and Air Content (Gravimetric) of Concrete
C143/C143M Test Method for Slump of Hydraulic-Cement Concrete
C172/C172M Practice for Sampling Freshly Mixed Concrete
C173/C173M Test Method for Air Content of Freshly Mixed Concrete by the Volumetric Method
C231/C231M Test Method for Air Content of Freshly Mixed Concrete by the Pressure Method
C330/C330M Specification for Lightweight Aggregates for Structural Concrete
C403/C403M Test Method for Time of Setting of Concrete Mixtures by Penetration Resistance
C470/C470M Specification for Molds for Forming Concrete Test Cylinders Vertically
C511 Specification for Mixing Rooms, Moist Cabinets, Moist Rooms, and Water Storage Tanks Used in the Testing of Hydraulic
Cements and Concretes
C617/C617M Practice for Capping Cylindrical Concrete Specimens
C1064/C1064M Test Method for Temperature of Freshly Mixed Hydraulic-Cement Concrete
C1077 Practice for Agencies Testing Concrete and Concrete Aggregates for Use in Construction and Criteria for Testing Agency
Evaluation
4
2.2 American Concrete Institute Publication:
309R Guide for Consolidation of Concrete
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C09 on Concrete and Concrete Aggregates and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C09.61 on Testing
for Strength.
Current edition approved July 1, 2015Nov. 15, 2015. Published August 2015January 2016. Originally approved in 1920. Last previous edition approved in 20122015 as
C31/C31M–12.–15. DOI: 10.1520/C0031_C0031M-15.10.1520/C0031_C0031M-15A.
2
See Section on Safety Precautions, Manual of Aggregate and Concrete Testing, Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol. 04.02.
3
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
4
Available from American Concrete Institute (ACI), P.O. Box 9094, Farmington Hills, MI 48333-9094, http://www.aci-int.org.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
C31/C31M − 15a
3. Terminology
3.1 For definitions of terms used in this practice, refer to Terminology C125.
4. Significance and Use
4.1 This practice provides stand
...