Improving product efficiency with advanced concrete testing technology By Alicia Hearns
W
hen monitoring the strength of in-situ concrete, the most common method that is used today
is gaining strength informs you about
is field-cured cylinders. This practice has
its designed strength, engineers will give
tu concrete, especially in extreme weath-
remained largely unchanged since the
the ‘go ahead’ to their team to move on
er. For this reason, alternative methods for
early 19th century. These samples are
to these next stages in the construction
testing concrete strength are becoming
casted and cured according to ASTM C31
process, such as post-tensioning or re-
more common, especially as new tech-
Standard Practice for Making and Cur-
moving formwork.
nologies penetrate the construction in-
when you can move to the next stage of your project. Usually, if field-cured specimens have reached 75 per cent of
dustry. One such alternative technique is
ing Concrete Test Specimens in the Field
Unfortunately, field-cured cylinders are
and tested for compressive strength by a
prone to inaccuracies. In particular, it is
third-party lab at various stages. Knowing
very difficult to maintain the specimen in
Concrete maturity, or ASTM C1074:
the rate at which your in-situ concrete
the same curing conditions as your in-si-
Standard Practice for Estimating Con-
SmartRock™ wireless sensor. Photo credit: Katie Roepke of Giatec.
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Canadian Concrete Pumper 2020
the maturity method.
