ASTM C31/C31M-12

Standard Practice for Making and Curing Concrete Test Specimens in the Field

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
This practice provides standardized requirements for making, curing, protecting, and transporting concrete test specimens under field conditions.  
If the specimens are made and standard cured, as stipulated herein, the resulting strength test data when the specimens are tested are able to be used for the following purposes:  
Acceptance testing for specified strength,  
Checking adequacy of mixture proportions for strength, and  
Quality control.  
If the specimens are made and field cured, as stipulated herein, the resulting strength test data when the specimens are tested are able to be used for the following purposes:  
Determination of whether a structure is capable of being put in service,
Comparison with test results of standard cured specimens or with test results from various in-place test methods,  
Adequacy of curing and protection of concrete in the structure, or  
Form or shoring removal time requirements.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers procedures for making and curing cylinder and beam specimens from representative samples of fresh concrete for a construction project.  
1.2 The concrete used to make the molded specimens shall be sampled after all on-site adjustments have been made to the mixture proportions, including the addition of mix water and admixtures. This practice is not satisfactory for making specimens from concrete not having measurable slump or requiring other sizes or shapes of specimens.  
1.3 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 non-conformance with the standard.
1.4 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. (WarningFresh hydraulic cementitious mixtures are caustic and may cause chemical burns to exposed skin and tissue upon prolonged exposure. )
1.5 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: 30-Jun-2012
• 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 C31/C31M-10 - Standard Practice for Making and Curing Concrete Test Specimens in the Field
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2012
• Referred By: ASTM C858-19 - Standard Specification for Underground Precast Concrete Utility Structures
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2012
• Referred By: ASTM C1768/C1768M-12(2017) - Standard Practice for Accelerated Curing of Concrete Cylinders
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2012
• Referred By: ASTM C1176/C1176M-20 - Standard Practice for Making Roller-Compacted Concrete in Cylinder Molds Using a Vibrating Table
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2012
• Referred By: ASTM C1556-22 - Standard Test Method for Determining the Apparent Chloride Diffusion Coefficient of Cementitious Mixtures by Bulk Diffusion
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2012
• Referred By: ASTM C470/C470M-23 - Standard Specification for Molds for Forming Concrete Test Cylinders Vertically
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2012
• Referred By: ASTM C330/C330M-23 - Standard Specification for Lightweight Aggregates for Structural Concrete
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2012
• Referred By: ASTM D4506-21 - Standard Test Method for Determining In Situ Modulus of Deformation of a Rock Mass Using the Radial Jacking Test
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2012
• Referred By: ASTM C497M-20a - Standard Test Methods for Concrete Pipe, Concrete Box Sections, Manhole Sections, or Tile (Metric)
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2012
• Referred By: ASTM C1670/C1670M-23 - Standard Specification for Adhered Manufactured Stone Masonry Veneer Units
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2012
• Referred By: ASTM C1435/C1435M-20 - Standard Practice for Molding Roller-Compacted Concrete in Cylinder Molds Using a Vibrating Hammer
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2012
• Referred By: ASTM C192/C192M-19 - Standard Practice for Making and Curing Concrete Test Specimens in the Laboratory
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2012
• Referred By: ASTM C1776/C1776M-17(2022) - Standard Specification for Wet-Cast Precast Modular Retaining Wall Units
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2012
• Referred By: ASTM C1550-20 - Standard Test Method for Flexural Toughness of Fiber Reinforced Concrete (Using Centrally Loaded Round Panel)
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2012
• Referred By: ASTM C1856/C1856M-17 - Standard Practice for Fabricating and Testing Specimens of Ultra-High Performance Concrete
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2012

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: C31/C31M − 12
StandardPractice for
1
Making and Curing Concrete Test Specimens in the Field
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C31/C31M; 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.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope* C125Terminology Relating to Concrete and Concrete Ag-
gregates
1.1 This practice covers procedures for making and curing
C138/C138MTest Method for Density (UnitWeight),Yield,
cylinder and beam specimens from representative samples of
and Air Content (Gravimetric) of Concrete
fresh concrete for a construction project.
C143/C143MTest Method for Slump of Hydraulic-Cement
1.2 The concrete used to make the molded specimens shall
Concrete
be sampled after all on-site adjustments have been made to the
C172Practice for Sampling Freshly Mixed Concrete
mixture proportions, including the addition of mix water and
C173/C173MTestMethodforAirContentofFreshlyMixed
admixtures. This practice is not satisfactory for making speci-
Concrete by the Volumetric Method
mens from concrete not having measurable slump or requiring
C231Test Method for Air Content of Freshly Mixed Con-
other sizes or shapes of specimens.
crete by the Pressure Method
1.3 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units
C330Specification for Lightweight Aggregates for Struc-
are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in
tural Concrete
each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each
C403/C403MTest Method for Time of Setting of Concrete
system shall be used independently of the other. Combining
Mixtures by Penetration Resistance
values from the two systems may result in non-conformance
C470/C470MSpecification for Molds for Forming Concrete
with the standard.
Test Cylinders Vertically
C511Specification for Mixing Rooms, Moist Cabinets,
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
Moist Rooms, and Water Storage Tanks Used in the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
Testing of Hydraulic Cements and Concretes
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
C617Practice for Capping Cylindrical Concrete Specimens
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. (Warning—Fresh C1064/C1064MTest Method for Temperature of Freshly
hydraulic cementitious mixtures are caustic and may cause Mixed Hydraulic-Cement Concrete
chemical burns to exposed skin and tissue upon prolonged C1077Practice forAgencies Testing Concrete and Concrete
2
exposure. ) Aggregates for Use in Construction and Criteria for
1.5 The text of this standard references notes which provide Testing Agency Evaluation
explanatory material. These notes shall not be considered as 4
2.2 American Concrete Institute Publication:
requirements of the standard.
309RGuide for Consolidation of Concrete
2. Referenced Documents
3. Terminology
3
2.1 ASTM Standards:
3.1 For definitions of terms used in this practice, refer to
Terminology C125.
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C09 on Concrete
and Concrete Aggregatesand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C09.61
4. Significance and Use
on Testing for Strength.
Current edition approved July 1, 2012. Published September 2012. Originally
4.1 This practice provides standardized requirements for
approved in 1920. Last previous edition approved in 2009 as C31/C31M–10. DOI:
making, curing, protecting, and transporting concrete test
10.1520/C0031_C0031M-12.
specimens under field conditions.
2
See Section on Safety Precautions, Manual ofAggregate and ConcreteTesting,
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol. 04.02.
3
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
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Available fromAmerican Concrete Institute (ACI), P.O. Box 9094, Farmington
the ASTM website. Hills, MI 48333-9094, http://www.aci-int.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

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C31/C31M − 12
NOTE1—Arodlengthof16in.[400mm]to24in.[600mm]meetsthe
4.2 If the specimens are made and standard cured, as
requirements of the following: Practice C31/C31M, Test Method C138/
stipulated herein, the resulting strength test data when the
C138M, Test Method C143/C143M, Test Method C173
...

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:C31/C31M–10 Designation:C31/C31M–12
Standard Practice for
1
Making and Curing Concrete Test Specimens in the Field
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C31/C31M; 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 Department of Defense.
1. Scope*
1.1 This practice covers procedures for making and curing cylinder and beam specimens from representative samples of fresh
concrete for a construction project.
1.2 The concrete used to make the molded specimens shall be sampled after all on-site adjustments have been made to the
mixture proportions, including the addition of mix water and admixtures. This practice is not satisfactory for making specimens
from concrete not having measurable slump or requiring other sizes or shapes of specimens.
1.3 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 non-conformance with the standard.
1.4 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—Fresh hydraulic cementitious mixtures are caustic and may cause chemical burns to exposed
2
skin and tissue upon prolonged exposure. )
1.5 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
3
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C125 Terminology Relating to Concrete and Concrete Aggregates
C138/C138M Test Method for Density (Unit Weight), Yield, and Air Content (Gravimetric) of Concrete
C143/C143M Test Method for Slump of Hydraulic-Cement Concrete
C172 Practice for Sampling Freshly Mixed Concrete
C173/C173M Test Method for Air Content of Freshly Mixed Concrete by the Volumetric Method
C231 Test Method for Air Content of Freshly Mixed Concrete by the Pressure Method
C330 Specification for Lightweight Aggregates for Structural Concrete
C403/C403M Test Method for Time of Setting of Concrete Mixtures by Penetration Resistance
C470/C470M Specification for Molds for Forming Concrete Test Cylinders Vertically
C511 Specification for Mixing Rooms, Moist Cabinets, Moist Rooms, and Water Storage Tanks Used in the Testing of
Hydraulic Cements and Concretes
C617 Practice for Capping Cylindrical Concrete Specimens
C1064/C1064M Test Method for Temperature of Freshly Mixed Hydraulic-Cement Concrete Test Method for Temperature of
Freshly Mixed Hydraulic-Cement Concrete
C1077 PracticeforAgenciesTestingConcreteandConcreteAggregatesforUseinConstructionandCriteriaforTestingAgency
Evaluation
4
2.2 American Concrete Institute Publication: CP-1Concrete Field Testing Technician, Grade I
309R Guide for Consolidation of Concrete
1
This practice 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 Oct.July 1, 2010.2012. Published November 2010.September 2012. Originally approved in 1920. Last previous edition approved in 2009 as
C31/C31M–109. DOI: 10.1520/C0031_C0031M-102.
2
See Section on Safety Precautions, Manual of Aggregate and Concrete Testing, Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol. 04.02.
3
For referencedASTM standards, visit theASTM website, www.astm.org, or contactASTM 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.
4
Available from American Concrete Institute (ACI), P.O. Box 9094, Farmington Hills, MI 48333-9094, http://www.aci-int.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

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C31/C31M–12
3. Terminology
3.1 For definitions of terms used in this practice, refer to Terminology C125.
4. Signific
...