ASTM C856-14
(Practice)Standard Practice for Petrographic Examination of Hardened Concrete
Standard Practice for Petrographic Examination of Hardened Concrete
ABSTRACT
This practice outlines the standard procedures for performing petrographic examination of hardened concrete samples. The samples examined may be taken from concrete constructions, that is, all sorts of objects, units, or structures that have been built of hydraulic cement concrete. They may also be concrete products or portions thereof, or concrete or mortar specimens that have been exposed in natural environments or simulated service conditions, or subjected to laboratory tests. This practice applies to samples of all types of hardened hydraulic-cement mixtures, including concrete, mortar, grout, plaster, stucco, terrazzo, and the like. The equipments generally used for specimen preparation are diamond saw, cutting lubricant, horizontal lap wheels, free abrasive machine, polishing wheel, hot plate or oven, prospector's pick and/or bricklayer's hammer, abrasives, plate-glass squares, suitable media, and microscope slides. For specimen examination, the equipments needed are stereomicroscope, dollies, petrographic or polarizing microscope, metallographic microscope, eyepiece micrometer, stage micrometer, microscope lamps, needleholders and points, bottles with droppers, assorted forceps, lens paper, refractometer, and immersion media. Appropriate procedures for the sampling, preparation, and examination of specimens are detailed methodically.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice outlines procedures for the petrographic examination of samples of hardened concrete. The samples examined may be taken from concrete constructions, they may be concrete products or portions thereof, or they may be concrete or mortar specimens that have been exposed in natural environments, or to simulated service conditions, or subjected to laboratory tests. The phrase “concrete constructions” is intended to include all sorts of objects, units, or structures that have been built of hydraulic cement concrete.
Note 1: A photographic chart of materials, phenomena, and reaction products discussed in Sections 8 – 13 and Tables 1-6 are available as Adjunct C856 (ADJC0856).
1.2 The petrographic procedures outlined herein are applicable to the examination of samples of all types of hardened hydraulic-cement mixtures, including concrete, mortar, grout, plaster, stucco, terrazzo, and the like. In this practice, the material for examination is designated as “concrete,” even though the commentary may be applicable to the other mixtures, unless the reference is specifically to media other than concrete.
Note 2: Appendix X1 outlines an uranyl acetate method for identifying locations where alkali-silica gel may be present. It is a requirement that the substances in those locations must be identified using any other more definitive techniques, such as petrographic microscopy.
1.3 The purposes of and procedures for petrographic examination of hardened concrete are given in the following sections:
Section
Qualifications of Petrographers and Use of Technicians
4
Purposes of Examination
5
Apparatus
6
Selection and Use of Apparatus
7
Samples
8
Examination of Samples
9
Specimen Preparation
10
Visual and Stereomicroscope Examination
11
Polarizing Microscope Examination
12
Paste Features
13
Report
14
1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as the standard. The SI units in parentheses are provided for information purposes only.
1.5 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. A specific hazard statement is given in 6.2.10.1.
General Information
Relations
Buy Standard
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: C856 − 14
Standard Practice for
1
Petrographic Examination of Hardened Concrete
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C856; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope*
Section
Report 14
1.1 This practice outlines procedures for the petrographic
1.4 Thevaluesstatedininch-poundunitsaretoberegarded
examination of samples of hardened concrete. The samples
as the standard. The SI units in parentheses are provided for
examined may be taken from concrete constructions, they may
information purposes only.
be concrete products or portions thereof, or they may be
concreteormortarspecimensthathavebeenexposedinnatural 1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
environments, or to simulated service conditions, or subjected
to laboratory tests. The phrase “concrete constructions” is responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
intended to include all sorts of objects, units, or structures that
have been built of hydraulic cement concrete. bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. A specific hazard
statement is given in 6.2.10.1.
NOTE 1—A photographic chart of materials, phenomena, and reaction
products discussed in Sections8–13 and Tables 1-6 are available as
2. Referenced Documents
Adjunct C856 (ADJCO856).
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.2 The petrographic procedures outlined herein are appli-
C125Terminology Relating to Concrete and Concrete Ag-
cable to the examination of samples of all types of hardened
gregates
hydraulic-cement mixtures, including concrete, mortar, grout,
C215 Test Method for Fundamental Transverse,
plaster, stucco, terrazzo, and the like. In this practice, the
Longitudinal, and Torsional Resonant Frequencies of
material for examination is designated as “concrete,” even
Concrete Specimens
though the commentary may be applicable to the other
C227 Test Method for Potential Alkali Reactivity of
mixtures, unless the reference is specifically to media other
Cement-Aggregate Combinations (Mortar-Bar Method)
than concrete.
C342Test Method for PotentialVolume Change of Cement-
NOTE 2—Appendix X1 outlines an uranyl acetate method for identify- 3
Aggregate Combinations (Withdrawn 2001)
ing locations where alkali-silica gel may be present. It is a requirement
C441TestMethodforEffectivenessofPozzolansorGround
that the substances in those locations must be identified using any other
Blast-Furnace Slag in Preventing Excessive Expansion of
more definitive techniques, such as petrographic microscopy.
Concrete Due to the Alkali-Silica Reaction
1.3 Thepurposesofandproceduresforpetrographicexami-
C452Test Method for Potential Expansion of Portland-
nationofhardenedconcretearegiveninthefollowingsections:
Cement Mortars Exposed to Sulfate
Section
C457Test Method for Microscopical Determination of Pa-
Qualifications of Petrographers and Use of Technicians 4 rameters of the Air-Void System in Hardened Concrete
Purposes of Examination 5
C496/C496MTest Method for Splitting Tensile Strength of
Apparatus 6
Cylindrical Concrete Specimens
Selection and Use of Apparatus 7
Samples 8 C597Test Method for Pulse Velocity Through Concrete
Examination of Samples 9
C803/C803MTest Method for Penetration Resistance of
Specimen Preparation 10
Hardened Concrete
Visual and Stereomicroscope Examination 11
Polarizing Microscope Examination 12
C805Test Method for Rebound Number of Hardened Con-
Paste Features 13
crete
1 2
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C09 on Concrete For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
andConcreteAggregatesandisthedirectresponsibilityofSubcommitteeC09.65on contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Petrography. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Current edition approved June 1, 2014. Published June 2014. Originally the ASTM website.
3
approved in 1977. Last previous edition approved in 2013 as C856 – 13. DOI: The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on
10.1520/C0856-14. www.astm.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 ----------------------
C856 − 14
C823Practice for Examination and Sampling of Hardened
Concrete in Constructions
1
---------------------- Page: 2 ----------------------
C856
...
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: C856 − 13 C856 − 14
Standard Practice for
1
Petrographic Examination of Hardened Concrete
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C856; 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.
1. Scope Scope*
1.1 This practice outlines procedures for the petrographic examination of samples of hardened concrete. The samples examined
may be taken from concrete constructions, they may be concrete products or portions thereof, or they may be concrete or mortar
specimens that have been exposed in natural environments, or to simulated service conditions, or subjected to laboratory tests. The
phrase “concrete constructions” is intended to include all sorts of objects, units, or structures that have been built of hydraulic
cement concrete.
NOTE 1—A photographic chart of materials, phenomena, and reaction products discussed in Sections 8 – 13 and Tables 1-6 are available as Adjunct
C856 (ADJCO856).
1.2 The petrographic procedures outlined herein are applicable to the examination of samples of all types of hardened
hydraulic-cement mixtures, including concrete, mortar, grout, plaster, stucco, terrazzo, and the like. In this practice, the material
for examination is designated as “concrete,” even though the commentary may be applicable to the other mixtures, unless the
reference is specifically to media other than concrete.
NOTE 2—Appendix X1 outlines an uranyl acetate method for identifying locations where alkali-silica gel may be present. It is a requirement that the
substances in those locations must be identified using any other more definitive techniques, such as petrographic microscopy.
1.3 Annex A1 outlines an uranyl acetate method for identifying locations where alkali-silica gel may be present. It is a
requirement that the substances in those locations must be identified using any other more definitive techniques, such as
petrographic microscopy.
1.3 The purposes of and procedures for petrographic examination of hardened concrete are given in the following sections:
Section
Qualifications of Petrographers and Use of Technicians 4
Purposes of Examination 5
Apparatus 6
Selection and Use of Apparatus 7
Samples 8
Examination of Samples 9
Specimen Preparation 10
Visual and Stereomicroscope Examination 11
Polarizing Microscope Examination 12
Paste Features 13
Report 14
1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as the standard. The SI units in parentheses are provided for
information purposes only.
1.5 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. A specific hazard statement is given in 6.2.10.1.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C125 Terminology Relating to Concrete and Concrete Aggregates
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C09 on Concrete and Concrete Aggregates and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C09.65 on
Petrography.
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2013June 1, 2014. Published December 2013June 2014. Originally approved in 1977. Last previous edition approved in 20112013 as
C856–11. DOI: 10.1520/C0856-13. – 13. DOI: 10.1520/C0856-14.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. 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
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
C856 − 14
65
TABLE 1 Visual Examination of Concrete (1)
Coarse Aggregate + Fine Aggregate + Matrix + Air + Embedded Items
Composition:
A
Maximum dimension, in. or
mm, in the range> d>
Type: Type: color, by comparison with more than 3 % of total, Type, size, location;
National Research kinds of metal; other
Council Rock Color items
Chart (1963)
1 Gravel 1 Natural sand predominantly in spherical
2 Crushed stone 2 Manufactured sand color distribution: voids?
3 Mixed 1 and 2 3 Mixed 1 mottled less than 3 % of total,
...
Questions, Comments and Discussion
Ask us and Technical Secretary will try to provide an answer. You can facilitate discussion about the standard in here.