ASTM C803/C803M-03

Standard Test Method for Penetration Resistance of Hardened Concrete

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
This test method is applicable to assess the uniformity of concrete and to delineate zones of poor quality or deteriorated concrete in structures.
This test method is applicable to estimate in-place strength, provided that a relationship has been experimentally established between penetration resistance and concrete strength. Such a relationship must be established for a given test apparatus (see also 9.1.5), using similar concrete materials and mixture proportions as in the structure. Use the procedures and statistical methods in ACI 228.1R for developing and using the strength relationship.4  
Note 1— Since penetration results may be affected by the nature of the formed surfaces (for example, wooden forms versus steel forms), correlation testing should be performed on specimens with formed surfaces similar to those to be used during construction. Additional information on the factors affecting penetration test results and summaries of past research are available.4 ,5  
Steel probes are driven with a high-energy, powder-actuated driver, and probes may penetrate some aggregate particles. Probe penetration resistance is affected by concrete strength as well as the nature of the coarse aggregate. Steel pins are smaller in size than probes and are driven by a low energy, spring-actuated driver. Pins are intended to penetrate the mortar fraction only; therefore, a test in which a pin strikes a coarse aggregate particle is disregarded.
This test method results in surface damage to the concrete, which may require repair in exposed architectural finishes.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the resistance of hardened concrete to penetration by either a steel probe or pin.
1.2 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. 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 nonconformance 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. For specific hazard statements, see Section 7.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Jan-2003
• ICS: 91.100.30 - Concrete and concrete products
• Technical Committee: C09 - Concrete and Concrete Aggregates
• Drafting Committee: C09.64 - Nondestructive and In-Place Testing

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM C803/C803M-97e1 - Standard Test Method for Penetration Resistance of Hardened Concrete
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2003
• Replaced By: ASTM C803/C803M-03(2010) - Standard Test Method for Penetration Resistance of Hardened Concrete
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2010
• Referred By: ASTM C1074-19e1 - Standard Practice for Estimating Concrete Strength by the Maturity Method
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2003
• Referred By: ASTM C856/C856M-20 - Standard Practice for Petrographic Examination of Hardened Concrete
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2003

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:C803/C803M–03
Standard Test Method for
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Penetration Resistance of Hardened Concrete
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C803/C803M; 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* 3.2 For definitions of terms used in this test method, refer to
Terminology C125.
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the resis-
tance of hardened concrete to penetration by either a steel
4. Summary of Test Method
probe or pin.
4.1 A driver delivers a known amount of energy to either a
1.2 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units
steel probe or pin. The penetration resistance of the concrete is
are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in
determined by measuring either the exposed lengths of probes
each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each
that have been driven into the concrete or by measuring the
system shall be used independently of the other. Combining
depthoftheholescreatedbythepenetrationofthepinsintothe
values from the two systems may result in nonconformance
concrete.
with the standard.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
5. Significance and Use
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
5.1 Thistestmethodisapplicabletoassesstheuniformityof
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
concrete and to delineate zones of poor quality or deteriorated
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
concrete in structures.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific hazard
5.2 This test method is applicable to estimate in-place
statements, see Section 7.
strength, provided that a relationship has been experimentally
established between penetration resistance and concrete
2. Referenced Documents
2
strength. Such a relationship must be established for a given
2.1 ASTM Standards:
test apparatus (see also 9.1.5), using similar concrete materials
C670 Practice for Preparing Precision and Bias Statements
and mixture proportions as in the structure. Use the procedures
for Test Methods for Construction Materials
andstatisticalmethodsinACI228.1Rfordevelopingandusing
C125 Terminology Relating to Concrete and Concrete Ag-
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the strength relationship.
gregates
2.2 ANSI Standard:
NOTE 1— Since penetration results may be affected by the nature of the
A10.3 Safety Requirements for Powder Actuated Fastening formed surfaces (for example, wooden forms versus steel forms), corre-
3
lation testing should be performed on specimens with formed surfaces
Systems
similar to those to be used during construction.Additional information on
the factors affecting penetration test results and summaries of past
3. Terminology
,
4 5
research are available.
3.1 Definitions:
5.3 Steel probes are driven with a high-energy, powder-
actuated driver, and probes may penetrate some aggregate
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C09 on
particles. Probe penetration resistance is affected by concrete
Concrete and ConcreteAggregates and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
strengthaswellasthenatureofthecoarseaggregate.Steelpins
C09.64 on Nondestructive and In-Place Testing.
Current edition approved Jan. 10, 2003. Published April 2003. Originally
are smaller in size than probes and are driven by a low energy,
´1
approved in 1975. Last previous edition approved in 1997 as C803/C 803M-97 .
DOI: 10.1520/C0803_C0803M-03.
2 4
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or ACI 228.1R-95, “In-Place Methods to Estimate Concrete Strength,” Report of
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM ACI Committee 228 on Nondestructive Testing, American Concrete Institute,
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Farmington Hills, MI.
5
the ASTM website. Malhotra, V. M., and Carette, G. G., “Penetration Resistance Methods,”
3
Available fromAmerican National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St., Chapter 2 in Handbook on Nondestructive Testing of Concrete, Malhotra,V. M., and
4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org. Carino, N. J., eds., CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, 1991, pp. 19–38.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.
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C803/C803M–03
spring-actuated driver. Pins are intended to penetrate the 6.1.4 Positioning Device—A device to be placed on the
mortar fractio
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