ASTM C39/C39M-14a

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, and C1231/C1231M and Test Methods C42/C42M and C873.  
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 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.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-May-2014
• 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-14 - Standard Test Method for Compressive Strength of Cylindrical Concrete Specimens
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2014
• Referred By: ASTM C1504-20 - Standard Specification for Manufacture of Precast Reinforced Concrete Three-Sided Structures for Culverts and Storm Drains
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2014
• Referred By: ASTM C593-19 - Standard Specification for Fly Ash and Other Pozzolans for Use With Lime for Soil Stabilization
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2014
• Referred By: ASTM C825-19 - Standard Specification for Precast Concrete Barriers
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2014
• Referred By: ASTM C1824-16(2021) - Standard Test Method for Full Scale Bending Test of Spun Prestressed Concrete Bases for Tapered Steel Lighting Poles
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2014
• Referred By: ASTM C1693-11(2017) - Standard Specification for Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC)
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2014
• Referred By: ASTM C94/C94M-23 - Standard Specification for Ready-Mixed Concrete
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2014
• Referred By: ASTM C1731-21 - Standard Specification for Concrete Floor Tile
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2014
• Referred By: ASTM F2551-09(2023) - Standard Practice for Installing a Protective Cementitious Liner System in Sanitary Sewer Manholes
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2014
• Referred By: ASTM C1037-16 - Standard Practice for Inspection of Underground Precast Concrete Utility Structures
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2014
• Referred By: ASTM C563-20 - Standard Guide for Approximation of Optimum SO<inf>3</inf> in Hydraulic Cement
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2014
• Referred By: ASTM C387/C387M-23 - Standard Specification for Packaged, Dry, Combined Materials for Concrete and High Strength Mortar
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2014
• Referred By: ASTM C465-23 - Standard Specification for Processing Additions for Use in the Manufacture<brk/> of Hydraulic Cements
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2014
• Referred By: ASTM C1176/C1176M-20 - Standard Practice for Making Roller-Compacted Concrete in Cylinder Molds Using a Vibrating Table
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2014
• 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-Jun-2014

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 − 14a
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* C192/C192M Practice for Making and Curing Concrete Test
Specimens in the Laboratory
1.1 This test method covers determination of compressive
C617 Practice for Capping Cylindrical Concrete 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 Test Method for Compressive Strength of Concrete
1.2 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units
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
C1231/C1231M Practice for Use of Unbonded Caps in
systems may result in non-conformance with the standard.
DeterminationofCompressiveStrengthofHardenedCon-
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
crete Cylinders
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the E4 Practices for Force Verification of Testing Machines
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
E74 Practice of Calibration of Force-Measuring Instruments
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- for Verifying the Force Indication of Testing Machines
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. (Warning—Means
Manual of Aggregate and Concrete Testing
should be provided to contain concrete fragments during
sudden rupture of specimens. Tendency for sudden rupture
3. Summary of Test Method
increaseswithincreasingconcretestrengthanditismorelikely
3.1 This test method consists of applying a compressive
when the testing machine is relatively flexible. The safety
axialloadtomoldedcylindersorcoresataratewhichiswithin
precautions given in the Manual of Aggregate and Concrete
a prescribed range until failure occurs. The compressive
Testing are recommended.)
strength of the specimen is calculated by dividing the maxi-
1.4 The text of this standard references notes which provide
mum load attained during the test by the cross-sectional area of
explanatory material. These notes shall not be considered as
the specimen.
requirements of the standard.
4. Significance and Use
2. Referenced Documents
2
4.1 Care must be exercised in the interpretation of the
2.1 ASTM Standards:
significanceofcompressivestrengthdeterminationsbythistest
C31/C31M Practice for Making and Curing Concrete Test
methodsincestrengthisnotafundamentalorintrinsicproperty
Specimens in the Field
of concrete made from given materials. Values obtained will
C42/C42M Test Method for Obtaining and Testing Drilled
dependonthesizeandshapeofthespecimen,batching,mixing
Cores and Sawed Beams of Concrete
procedures, the methods of sampling, molding, and fabrication
and the age, temperature, and moisture conditions during
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C09 on
curing.
Concrete and ConcreteAggregates and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
C09.61 on Testing for Strength. 4.2 This test method is used to determine compressive
Current edition approved June 1, 2014. Published June 2014. Originally
strength of cylindrical specimens prepared and cured in accor-
approved in 1921. Last previous edition approved in 2014 as C39/C39M – 14. DOI:
dance with Practices C31/C31M, C192/C192M, C617, and
10.1520/C0039_C0039M-14A.
2
C1231/C1231M and Test Methods C42/C42M and C873.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
4.3 The results of this test method are used as a basis for
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. quality control of concrete proportioning, mixing, and placing
*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
...

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 − 14 C39/C39M − 14a
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.)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 Practice for Capping Cylindrical Concrete Specimens
C670 Practice for Preparing Precision and Bias Statements for Test Methods for Construction Materials
C873 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
C1231/C1231M Practice for Use of Unbonded Caps in Determination of Compressive Strength of Hardened Concrete Cylinders
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
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 Feb. 1, 2014June 1, 2014. Published February 2014June 2014. Originally approved in 1921. Last previous edition approved in 20122014 as
C39/C39M–12a. DOI: 10.1520/C0039_C0039M-14. – 14. DOI: 10.1520/C0039_C0039M-14A.
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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