ASTM C39/C39M-16a

Standard Test Method for Compressive Strength of Cylindrical Concrete Specimens

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 Care must be exercised in the interpretation of the significance of compressive strength determinations by this test method since strength is not a fundamental or intrinsic property of concrete made from given materials. Values obtained will depend on the size and shape of the specimen, batching, mixing procedures, the methods of sampling, molding, and fabrication and the age, temperature, and moisture conditions during curing.  
4.2 This test method is used to determine compressive strength of cylindrical specimens prepared and cured in accordance with Practices C31/C31M, C192/C192M, C617/C617M, C1176/C1176M, C1231/C1231M, and C1435/C1435M, and Test Methods C42/C42M and C873/C873M.  
4.3 The results of this test method are used as a basis for quality control of concrete proportioning, mixing, and placing operations; determination of compliance with specifications; control for evaluating effectiveness of admixtures; and similar uses.  
4.4 The individual who tests concrete cylinders for acceptance testing shall meet the concrete laboratory technician requirements of Practice C1077, including an examination requiring performance demonstration that is evaluated by an independent examiner.
Note 1: Certification equivalent to the minimum guidelines for ACI Concrete Laboratory Technician, Level I or ACI Concrete Strength Testing Technician will satisfy this requirement.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers determination of compressive strength of cylindrical concrete specimens such as molded cylinders and drilled cores. It is limited to concrete having a density in excess of 800 kg/m3 [50 lb/ft3].  
1.2 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The inch-pound units are shown in brackets. 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.  
1.3 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—Means should be provided to contain concrete fragments during sudden rupture of specimens. Tendency for sudden rupture increases with increasing concrete strength and it is more likely when the testing machine is relatively flexible. The safety precautions given in the Manual are recommended.)  
1.4 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: 30-Jun-2016
• ICS: 91.100.30 - Concrete and concrete products
• Technical Committee: C09 - Concrete and Concrete Aggregates
• Drafting Committee: C09.61 - Testing for Strength

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM C39/C39M-16 - Standard Test Method for Compressive Strength of Cylindrical Concrete Specimens
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2016
• Replaced By: ASTM C39/C39M-16b - Standard Test Method for Compressive Strength of Cylindrical Concrete Specimens
• Effective Date: 01-Aug-2016
• Referred By: ASTM C330/C330M-23 - Standard Specification for Lightweight Aggregates for Structural Concrete
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2016
• Referred By: ASTM A627-03(2019) - Standard Test Methods for Tool-Resisting Steel Bars, Flats, and Shapes for Detention and Correctional Facilities
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2016
• Referred By: ASTM C1231/C1231M-15 - Standard Practice for Use of Unbonded Caps in Determination of Compressive Strength of Hardened Cylindrical Concrete Specimens
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2016
• Referred By: ASTM C497M-20a - Standard Test Methods for Concrete Pipe, Concrete Box Sections, Manhole Sections, or Tile (Metric)
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2016
• Referred By: ASTM C563-20 - Standard Guide for Approximation of Optimum SO<inf>3</inf> in Hydraulic Cement
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2016
• Referred By: ASTM C494/C494M-19e1 - Standard Specification for Chemical Admixtures for Concrete
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2016
• Referred By: ASTM D7853-13(2020) - Standard Test Method for Hydraulic Pullout Resistance of a Geomembrane with Locking Extensions Embedded in Concrete
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2016
• Referred By: ASTM C1074-19e1 - Standard Practice for Estimating Concrete Strength by the Maturity Method
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2016
• Referred By: ASTM C796/C796M-19 - Standard Test Method for Foaming Agents for Use in Producing Cellular Concrete Using Preformed Foam
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2016
• Referred By: ASTM C1856/C1856M-17 - Standard Practice for Fabricating and Testing Specimens of Ultra-High Performance Concrete
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2016
• Referred By: ASTM C979/C979M-16 - Standard Specification for Pigments for Integrally Colored Concrete
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2016
• Referred By: ASTM F2551-09(2023) - Standard Practice for Installing a Protective Cementitious Liner System in Sanitary Sewer Manholes
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2016
• Referred By: ASTM E488/E488M-22 - Standard Test Methods for Strength of Anchors in Concrete Elements
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2016

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: C39/C39M − 16a
StandardTest Method for
1
Compressive Strength of Cylindrical Concrete Specimens
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C39/C39M; 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* Specimens in the Laboratory
C617/C617M Practice for Capping Cylindrical Concrete
1.1 This test method covers determination of compressive
Specimens
strength of cylindrical concrete specimens such as molded
C670 Practice for Preparing Precision and Bias Statements
cylinders and drilled cores. It is limited to concrete having a
3 3 for Test Methods for Construction Materials
density in excess of 800 kg/m [50 lb/ft ].
C873/C873M Test Method for Compressive Strength of
1.2 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units
Concrete Cylinders Cast in Place in Cylindrical Molds
are to be regarded separately as standard.The inch-pound units
C1077 Practice forAgencies Testing Concrete and Concrete
are shown in brackets. The values stated in each system may
Aggregates for Use in Construction and Criteria for
not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used
Testing Agency Evaluation
independently of the other. Combining values from the two
C1176/C1176M Practice for Making Roller-Compacted
systems may result in non-conformance with the standard.
Concrete in Cylinder Molds Using a Vibrating Table
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
C1231/C1231M Practice for Use of Unbonded Caps in
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the Determination of Compressive Strength of Hardened Cy-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
lindrical Concrete Specimens
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- C1435/C1435M Practice for Molding Roller-Compacted
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. (Warning—Means
Concrete in Cylinder Molds Using a Vibrating Hammer
should be provided to contain concrete fragments during E4 Practices for Force Verification of Testing Machines
sudden rupture of specimens. Tendency for sudden rupture
E74 Practice of Calibration of Force-Measuring Instruments
increaseswithincreasingconcretestrengthanditismorelikely for Verifying the Force Indication of Testing Machines
when the testing machine is relatively flexible. The safety
Manual of Aggregate and Concrete Testing
precautions given in the Manual are recommended.)
1.4 The text of this standard references notes which provide 3. Summary of Test Method
explanatory material. These notes shall not be considered as
3.1 This test method consists of applying a compressive
requirements of the standard.
axial load to molded cylinders or cores at a rate which is within
a prescribed range until failure occurs. The compressive
2. Referenced Documents
strength of the specimen is calculated by dividing the maxi-
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
mum load attained during the test by the cross-sectional area of
C31/C31M Practice for Making and Curing Concrete Test
the specimen.
Specimens in the Field
C42/C42M Test Method for Obtaining and Testing Drilled
4. Significance and Use
Cores and Sawed Beams of Concrete
4.1 Care must be exercised in the interpretation of the
C192/C192M Practice for Making and Curing Concrete Test
significanceofcompressivestrengthdeterminationsbythistest
methodsincestrengthisnotafundamentalorintrinsicproperty
of concrete made from given materials. Values obtained will
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C09 on
dependonthesizeandshapeofthespecimen,batching,mixing
Concrete and ConcreteAggregates and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
C09.61 on Testing for Strength.
procedures, the methods of sampling, molding, and fabrication
Current edition approved July 1, 2016. Published July 2016. Originally approved
and the age, temperature, and moisture conditions during
in 1921. Last previous edition approved in 2016 as C39/C39M – 16. DOI:
curing.
10.1520/C0039_C0039M-16A.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
4.2 This test method is used to determine compressive
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
strength of cylindrical specimens prepared and cured in accor-
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. dance with Practices C31/C31M, C192/C192M, C617/C617M,
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West C
...

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: C39/C39M − 16 C39/C39M − 16a
Standard Test Method for
1
Compressive Strength of Cylindrical Concrete Specimens
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C39/C39M; 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 test method covers determination of compressive strength of cylindrical concrete specimens such as molded cylinders
3 3
and drilled cores. It is limited to concrete having a density in excess of 800 kg/m [50 lb/ft ].
1.2 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The inch-pound units are
shown in brackets. 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.
1.3 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—Means should be provided to contain concrete fragments during sudden rupture of specimens.
Tendency for sudden rupture increases with increasing concrete strength and it is more likely when the testing machine is relatively
flexible. The safety precautions given in the Manual of Aggregate and Concrete Testing are recommended.)
1.4 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
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C31/C31M Practice for Making and Curing Concrete Test Specimens in the Field
C42/C42M Test Method for Obtaining and Testing Drilled Cores and Sawed Beams of Concrete
C192/C192M Practice for Making and Curing Concrete Test Specimens in the Laboratory
C617/C617M Practice for Capping Cylindrical Concrete Specimens
C670 Practice for Preparing Precision and Bias Statements for Test Methods for Construction Materials
C873/C873M Test Method for Compressive Strength of Concrete Cylinders Cast in Place in Cylindrical Molds
C1077 Practice for Agencies Testing Concrete and Concrete Aggregates for Use in Construction and Criteria for Testing Agency
Evaluation
C1176/C1176M Practice for Making Roller-Compacted Concrete in Cylinder Molds Using a Vibrating Table
C1231/C1231M Practice for Use of Unbonded Caps in Determination of Compressive Strength of Hardened Cylindrical
Concrete Specimens
C1435/C1435M Practice for Molding Roller-Compacted Concrete in Cylinder Molds Using a Vibrating Hammer
E4 Practices for Force Verification of Testing Machines
E74 Practice of Calibration of Force-Measuring Instruments for Verifying the Force Indication of Testing Machines
Manual of Aggregate and Concrete Testing of Aggregate and Concrete Testing
3. Summary of Test Method
3.1 This test method consists of applying a compressive axial load to molded cylinders or cores at a rate which is within a
prescribed range until failure occurs. The compressive strength of the specimen is calculated by dividing the maximum load
attained during the test by the cross-sectional area of the specimen.
1
This test method 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 March 1, 2016July 1, 2016. Published April 2016July 2016. Originally approved in 1921. Last previous edition approved in 20152016 as
C39/C39M – 15a.16. DOI: 10.1520/C0039_C0039M-16.10.1520/C0039_C0039M-16A.
2
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.
*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

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C39/C39M − 16a
4. Significance and Use
4.1 Care must be exercised in the interpret
...