ASTM C39/C39M-20

Standard Test Method for Compressive Strength of Cylindrical Concrete Specimens

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 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.  
5.2 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, C943, C1176/C1176M, C1231/C1231M, and C1435/C1435M, and Test Methods C42/C42M, C873/C873M, and C1604/C1604M.  
5.3 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.  
5.4 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, health, and environmental 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 R0030 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.  
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Jan-2020
• ICS: 91.100.30 - Concrete and concrete products
• Technical Committee: C09 - Concrete and Concrete Aggregates
• Drafting Committee: C09.61 - Testing for Strength

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 − 20
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* 2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.1 This test method covers determination of compressive
C31/C31M Practice for Making and Curing Concrete Test
strength of cylindrical concrete specimens such as molded
Specimens in the Field
cylinders and drilled cores. It is limited to concrete having a
3 3
C42/C42M Test Method for Obtaining and Testing Drilled
density in excess of 800 kg/m [50 lb/ft ].
Cores and Sawed Beams of Concrete
1.2 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units
C125 Terminology Relating to Concrete and Concrete Ag-
are to be regarded separately as standard.The inch-pound units
gregates
are shown in brackets. The values stated in each system may
C192/C192M Practice for Making and Curing Concrete Test
not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used
Specimens in the Laboratory
independently of the other. Combining values from the two
C617/C617M Practice for Capping Cylindrical Concrete
systems may result in non-conformance with the standard.
Specimens
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
C670 Practice for Preparing Precision and Bias Statements
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
for Test Methods for Construction Materials
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
C873/C873M Test Method for Compressive Strength of
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
Concrete Cylinders Cast in Place in Cylindrical Molds
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to
C943 Practice for Making Test Cylinders and Prisms for
use.(Warning—Means should be provided to contain concrete
Determining Strength and Density of Preplaced-
fragments during sudden rupture of specimens. Tendency for
Aggregate Concrete in the Laboratory
sudden rupture increases with increasing concrete strength and
C1077 Practice forAgencies Testing Concrete and Concrete
it is more likely when the testing machine is relatively flexible.
Aggregates for Use in Construction and Criteria for
The safety precautions given in R0030 are recommended.)
Testing Agency Evaluation
1.4 The text of this standard references notes which provide
C1176/C1176M Practice for Making Roller-Compacted
explanatory material. These notes shall not be considered as
Concrete in Cylinder Molds Using a Vibrating Table
requirements of the standard.
C1231/C1231M Practice for Use of Unbonded Caps in
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor- Determination of Compressive Strength of Hardened Cy-
lindrical Concrete Specimens
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the C1435/C1435M Practice for Molding Roller-Compacted
Concrete in Cylinder Molds Using a Vibrating Hammer
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical C1604/C1604M Test Method for Obtaining and Testing
Drilled Cores of Shotcrete
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
E4 Practices for Force Verification of Testing Machines
E18 Test Methods for Rockwell Hardness of Metallic Ma-
terials
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C09 on
Concrete and ConcreteAggregates and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
2
C09.61 on Testing for Strength. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2020. Published March 2020. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 1921. Last previous edition approved in 2018 as C39/C39M – 18. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/C0039_C0039M-20. 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 − 20
E74 Practices for Calibration and Verification for Force- C943, C1176/C1176M, C1231/C1231M, and C1435/C1435M,
Measuring Instruments and Test Methods C42/C42M, C873/C873M, and C1604/
R0030 Manual of Aggregate and Concrete Testing C1604M.
5.3 The results of this test method are used as a basis for
...

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 − 18 C39/C39M − 20
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, health, and environmental 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 ManualR0030 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.
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
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
C125 Terminology Relating to Concrete and Concrete Aggregates
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
C943 Practice for Making Test Cylinders and Prisms for Determining Strength and Density of Preplaced-Aggregate Concrete
in the Laboratory
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
C1604/C1604M Test Method for Obtaining and Testing Drilled Cores of Shotcrete
E4 Practices for Force Verification of Testing Machines
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 Jan. 1, 2018Feb. 1, 2020. Published February 2018March 2020. Originally approved in 1921. Last previous edition approved in 20172018 as
C39/C39M – 17b.C39/C39M – 18. DOI: 10.1520/C0039_C0039M-18.10.1520/C0039_C0039M-20.
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

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
C39/C39M − 20
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