ASTM C856-04
(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 7-12 and Table 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.
1.3 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.
1.4 The purposes of and procedures for petrographic examination of hardened concrete are given in the following sections:SectionQualifications of Petrographers and Use of Technicians3Purposes of Examination4Apparatus5Selection and Use of Apparatus6Samples 7Examination of Samples8Specimen Preparation9Visual and Stereomicroscope Examination10Polarizing Microscope Examination11Paste Features12Report13
1.5 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.
1.6 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 5.2.10.1.
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Designation:C856–04
Standard Practice for
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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 13
1.1 This practice outlines procedures for the petrographic
examination of samples of hardened concrete. The samples 1.5 Thevaluesstatedininch-poundunitsaretoberegarded
examined may be taken from concrete constructions, they may
as the standard. The SI units in parentheses are provided for
be concrete products or portions thereof, or they may be information purposes only.
concreteormortarspecimensthathavebeenexposedinnatural
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
environments, or to simulated service conditions, or subjected safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
to laboratory tests. The phrase “concrete constructions” is
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
intended to include all sorts of objects, units, or structures that priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
have been built of hydraulic cement concrete.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. A specific hazard
statement is given in 5.2.10.1.
NOTE 1—A photographic chart of materials, phenomena, and reaction
products discussed in Sections 7-12 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-
C215 Test Method for Fundamental Transverse, Longitudi-
cable to the examination of samples of all types of hardened
nal, and Torsional Resonant Frequencies of Concrete
hydraulic-cement mixtures, including concrete, mortar, grout,
Specimens
plaster, stucco, terrazzo, and the like. In this practice, the
C227 Test Method for Potential Alkali Reactivity of
material for examination is designated as “concrete,” even
3
Cement-Aggregate Combinations (Mortar-Bar Method)
though the commentary may be applicable to the other mix-
C342 TestMethodforPotentialVolumeChangeofCement-
tures, unless the reference is specifically to media other than
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Aggregate Combinations
concrete.
C441 Test Method for Effectiveness of Pozzolans or
1.3 AnnexA1 outlines an uranyl acetate method for identi-
Ground Blast-Furnace Slag in Preventing Excessive Ex-
fying locations where alkali-silica gel may be present. It is a
pansion of Concrete Due to the Alkali-Silica Reaction
requirement that the substances in those locations must be
C452 Test Method for Potential Expansion of Portland-
identified using any other more definitive techniques, such as
Cement Mortars Exposed to Sulfate
petrographic microscopy.
C457 Test Method for Microscopical Determination of
1.4 Thepurposesofandproceduresforpetrographicexami-
Parameters of the Air-Void System in Hardened Concrete
nationofhardenedconcretearegiveninthefollowingsections:
C496/C496M Test Method for Splitting Tensile Strength of
Section
Cylindrical Concrete Specimens
C597 Test Method for Pulse Velocity Through Concrete
Qualifications of Petrographers and Use of Technicians 3
Purposes of Examination 4
C803/C803M Test Method for Penetration Resistance of
Apparatus 5
Hardened Concrete
Selection and Use of Apparatus 6
C805 Test Method for Rebound Number of Hardened Con-
Samples 7
Examination of Samples 8
crete
Specimen Preparation 9
C823 Practice for Examination and Sampling of Hardened
Visual and Stereomicroscope Examination 10
Polarizing Microscope Examination 11 Concrete in Constructions
Paste Features 12
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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 Jan. 1, 2004. Published February 2004. Originally the ASTM website.
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approved in 1977. Last previous edition approved in 2002 as C856 – 02. DOI: Withdrawn. The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced
10.1520/C0856-04. on www.astm.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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C856–04
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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,
...
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