ASTM C642-97

Standard Test Method for Density, Absorption, and Voids in Hardened Concrete

SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determinations of specific gravity, percent absorption, and percent voids in hardened concrete.  
1.2 The text of this method references notes and footnotes which provide explanatory information. These notes and footnotes (excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be considered as requirements of this standard.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Dec-1996
• ICS: 91.100.30 - Concrete and concrete products
• Technical Committee: C09 - Concrete and Concrete Aggregates
• Drafting Committee: C09.66 - Concrete's Resistance to Fluid Penetration

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM C642-06 - Standard Test Method for Density, Absorption, and Voids in Hardened Concrete
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2006
• Referred By: ASTM C42/C42M-20 - Standard Test Method for Obtaining and Testing Drilled Cores and Sawed Beams of Concrete
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-1997
• Referred By: ASTM C1195-21 - Standard Test Method for Absorption of Architectural Cast Stone
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-1997
• Referred By: ASTM C1585-20 - Standard Test Method for Measurement of Rate of Absorption of Water by Hydraulic-Cement Concretes
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-1997
• Referred By: ASTM D4612-16 - Standard Test Method for Calculating Thermal Diffusivity of Rock and Soil
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-1997
• Referred By: ASTM C1140/C1140M-11(2019) - Standard Practice for Preparing and Testing Specimens from Shotcrete Test Panels
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-1997
• Referred By: ASTM C1138M-19 - Standard Test Method for Abrasion Resistance of Concrete (Underwater Method)
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-1997

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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.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:C642–97
Standard Test Method for
Density, Absorption, and Voids in Hardened Concrete
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C 642; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope specimen was wet when its mass was first determined, place it
in the oven for a second drying treatment of 24 h and again
1.1 This test method covers the determinations of denisty,
determine the mass. If the third value checks the second,
percent absorption, and percent voids in hardened concrete.
consider the specimen dry. In case of any doubt, redry the
1.2 The text of this test method references notes and
specimen for 24-h periods until check values of mass are
footnotes which provide explanatory information. These notes
obtained. If the difference between values obtained from two
and footnotes (excluding those in tables and figures) shall not
successive values of mass exceeds 0.5 % of the lesser value,
be considered as requirements of this standard.
return the specimens to the oven for an additional 24-h drying
2. Significance and Use period, and repeat the procedure until the difference between
anytwosuccessivevaluesislessthan0.5 %ofthelowestvalue
2.1 This test method is useful in developing the data
obtained. Designate this last value A.
required for conversions between mass and volume for con-
5.2 Saturated Mass After Immersion—Immerse the speci-
crete. It can be used to determine conformance with specifica-
men, after final drying, cooling, and determination of mass, in
tions for concrete and to show differences from place to place
water at approximately 21°C for not less than 48 h and until
within a mass of concrete.
two successive values of mass of the surface-dried sample at
3. Apparatus
intervals of 24 h show an increase in mass of less than 0.5 %
of the larger value. Surface-dry the specimen by removing
3.1 Balance, sensitive to 0.025 % of the mass of the
surface moisture with a towel, and determine the mass.
specimen.
Designate the final surface-dry mass after immersion B.
3.2 Container, suitable for immersing the specimen and
5.3 Saturated Mass After Boiling—Place the specimen,
suitable wire for suspending the specimen in water.
processed as described in 5.2, in a suitable receptacle, covered
4. Test Specimen
with tap water, and boil for 5 h.Allow it to cool by natural loss
of heat for not less than 14 h to a final temperature of 20 to
4.1 Whenever possible, the sample shall consist of several
25°C.Removethesurfacemoisturewithatowelanddetermine
individual portions of concrete, each to be tested separately.
the mass of the specimen. Designate the soaked, boiled,
The individual portions may be pieces of cylinders, cores, or
surface-dried mass C.
beams of any desired shape or size, except that the volume of
5.4 ImmersedApparent Mass—Suspend the specimen, after
each portion shall be not less than 350 cm (or for normal
immersion and boiling, by a wire and determine the apparent
weight concrete, approximately 800 g); and each portion shall
mass in water. Designate this apparent mass D.
be free from observable cracks, fissures, or shattered edges.
6. Calculation
5. Procedure
6.1 By using the values for mass determined in accordance
5.1 Oven-Dry Mass—Determine the mass of the portions,
withtheproceduresdescribedinSection5,makethefollowing
anddryinanovenatatemperatureof100to110°Cfornotless
calculations:
than 24 h.After removing each specimen from the oven, allow
ittocoolindryair(preferablyinadesiccator)toatemperature
Absorption after immersion, % 5 [ B – A!/A] 3 100 (1)
~
of 20 to 25°C and determine the mass. If the specimen was
Absorption after immersion and boiling, % 5 [~C – A!/A] 3 100
comparatively dry when its mass was first determined, and the
(2)
second mass closely agrees with the first, consider it dry. If the
Bulk density, dry 5 [A/~C 2 D!#·r5 g (3)
Bulk density after immersion 5 [B/~C – D!#·r (4)
Bulk density after immersion and boiling 5 [C/~C – D!#·r (5)
ThistestmethodisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeC-9onConcrete
andConcreteAggregatesandisthedirectresponsibilityofSubcommitteeC09.69on
Apparent density 5 [A/~A – D!#·r5 g (6)
Miscellaneous Tests.
Volume of permeable pore space ~voids!,% 5 ~g – g !/g 3 100
Current edition approved Jan. 10, 1997. Published March 1997. Originally
2 1 2
published as C 642 – 69 T. Last previous edition C 642 – 90. (7)
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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.
C642–97
5 g (10)
or ~C – A!/~C – D! 3 100
Bulk density after immersion 5 [B/~C 2 D!#·r
where:
5 [1090/~1095 2 495!# 3 1
A = mass of oven-dried sample in air, g
5 1.82 (11)
B = mass of surface-dry sample in air after immersion, g
Bulk density after immersion and boiling 5 [C/~C 2 D!# r
C = massofsurface-drysampleinairafterimmersionand
5 [1095/~1095 2 495!# 3 1
boiling, g
5 1.83 Mg/m (12)
D = apparent mass of sample in water after immersion
and boiling, g
Apparent density 5 [A/~A 2 D!# r
g = bul
...