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.

Designation: C873/C873M − 15

Standard Test Method for

Compressive Strength of Concrete Cylinders Cast in Place
in Cylindrical Molds1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C873/C873M; 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* C670 Practice for Preparing Precision and Bias Statements

1.1 This test method covers the determination of strength of for Test Methods for Construction Materials
cylindrical concrete specimens that have been molded in place C1231/C1231M Practice for Use of Unbonded Caps in
using special molds attached to formwork. This test method is Determination of Compressive Strength of Hardened Con-
limited to use in slabs where the depth of concrete is from 125 crete Cylinders
to 300 mm [5 to 12 in.].
3. Summary of Test Method
1.2 Units—The values stated in either SI units or inch-
pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The 3.1 A concrete cylinder mold assembly consisting of a mold
values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents; and a tubular support member is fastened within the concrete
therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. formwork prior to placement of the concrete as shown in Fig.
Combining values from the two systems may result in non- 1. The elevation of the mold upper edge is adjusted to
conformance with the standard. correspond to the level of the finished slab surface. The mold
support prevents direct contact of the slab concrete with the
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the outside of the mold and permits easy removal of the mold from
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the the slab. The mold is filled at the time its location is reached in
responsibility of the user of this standard to consult and the normal course of concrete placement. The specimen in the
establish appropriate safety and health practices and deter- “cured-in-place” condition is removed from its in-place loca-
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. tion immediately prior to de-molding, capping, and testing.
(Warning—Fresh hydraulic cementitious mixtures are caustic The reported compressive strength is corrected on the basis of
and may cause chemical burns to skin and tissue upon specimen length-diameter ratio using correction factors pro-
prolonged exposure.2) vided in the section on calculation of Test Method C42/C42M.
2. Referenced Documents
4. Significance and Use
2.1 ASTM Standards:3
4.1 Cast-in-place cylinder strength relates to the strength of
C39/C39M Test Method for Compressive Strength of Cylin-
concrete in the structure due to the similarity of curing
drical Concrete Specimens
conditions because the cylinder is cured within the slab.
C42/C42M Test Method for Obtaining and Testing Drilled
However, due to differences in moisture condition, degree of
Cores and Sawed Beams of Concrete
consolidation, specimen size, and length-diameter ratio, there
C470/C470M Specification for Molds for Forming Concrete
is not a unique relationship between the strength of cast-in-
Test Cylinders Vertically
place cylinders and cores of the same age. When cores can be
C617 Practice for Capping Cylindrical Concrete Specimens
drilled undamaged and tested in the same moisture condition as
the cast-in-place cylinders, the strength of the cylinders can be
1
expected to be on average 10 % higher than the cores at ages
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C09 on
Concrete and Concrete Aggregatesand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
up to 91 days for specimens of the same size and length-
C09.61 on Testing for Strength. diameter ratio.4
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2015. Published February 2016. Originally
approved in 1977. Last previous edition approved in 2010 as C873/C873M–10a.
4.2 Strength of cast-in-place cylinders may be used for
DOI: 10.1520/C0873_C0873M-15. various purposes, such as estimating the load-bearing capacity
2
Section on Safety Precautions, Manual of Aggregate and Concrete Testing,
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.02.
3
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
4
contact ASTM Customer Service at [email protected]. For Annual Book of ASTM Bloem, D. L., “Concrete Strength in Structures,” Journal of the American
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Concrete Institute, JACIA, March 1968, or ACI Proceedings, PACIA, Vol. 65, No.
the ASTM website. 3, pp. 169–248.

*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard

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 C873/C873M − 15

FIG. 1 Schematic of Cast-in-Place Cylinder Mold Assembly

of slabs, determining the time of form and shore removal, and 1 % and no individual diameter differing from any other
determining the effectiveness of curing and protection. diameter by more than 2 %. The plane of the rim of the mold
and the bottom shall be perpendicular to the axis of the mold
5. Apparatus within 0.5° (approximately equivalent to 1 mm in 300 mm [1⁄8
5.1 Cast-in-place molds shall have a diameter at least three in. in 12 in.]).
times the nominal maximum aggregate size. The length-
diameter ratio (L/D) of the specimen after capping shall not be NOTE 1—The length-diameter ratio should preferably be between 1.5
and 2.0.
less than 1.0 (see Note 1). Molds (inner member) shall be
constructed in one piece in the form of right circular cylinders 5.2 Molds shall be watertight and meet the criteria of the
at least 100 mm [4 in.] in inside diameter with the average section on water leakage of Specification C470/C470M. Molds
diameter not differing from the nominal diameter by more than and auxiliary apparatus shall be made of nonabsorbent material

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 C873/C873M − 15
that does not react with concrete containing portland or other peratures during the curing period for inclusion in the report.
hydraulic cements. Molds shall be sufficiently strong and tough Specimen molds shall remain fully seated in place until time of
to permit use under normal construction conditions without removal for transportation to the testing location.
tearing, crushing, or otherwise deforming permanently when 7.4 Mold Removal—Remove molds from support members,
filled with fresh concrete. Molds shall resist permanent defor- exercising care so as not to physically damage specimens.
mation to the extent that they produce hardened concrete From the time of removal from the structure until time of test,
cylinders such that two diameters measured at right angles to maintain test specimens at a temperature within 65 °C [610
each other in any horizontal plane do not differ by more than °F] of the slab surface temperature at the time of removal.
2.0 mm [1⁄16 in.]. Transport specimens to the laboratory within 4 h after removal.
5.3 The exterior top of the mold shall have outwardly During transportation protect the specimens with suitable
extending centering knobs and an annular flange to rest on top material to prevent damage from jarring, to insulate them from
of the support member (5.4) and to seal the annular ring space extreme ambient temperatures, and to prevent moisture loss.
between the mold and that support member. Means for twisting 7.5 Testing of Specimens—Remove specimens from molds.
and vertical withdrawal of molds from the support member Determine the average diameter of each specimen to the
shall be provided in the annular flange (see Fig. 1). nearest 0.2 mm [0.01 in.] by averaging two diameters mea-
5.4 Support members shall be right circular cylinders and sured at right angles to each other at about the midheight of the
shall be rigid tubes of diameter required to accommodate specimen. Cap specimens in accordance with Practice C617
molds stipulated in 5.1 and to concentrically contact and and measure the length of the capped specimens to the nearest
support the annular flange of the mold. Support members shall 2 mm [0.1 in.]. Alternatively, measure the length of the
be provided with a means for height adjustment and shall be specimens to the nearest 2 mm [0.1 in.] and use unbonded caps
fitted with exterior means to permit nailing or other firm in accordance with Practice C1231/C1231M. Test the speci-
attachment to slab forms in a manner preventing entry of mens in accordance with Test Method C39/C39M. Test the
concrete or mortar into the annular ring space between the specimens for compressive strength in the “as-received” mois-
support member and the mold. ture condition unless required otherwise by project specifica-
tions.
6. Installation of Apparatus
6.1 After completion of reinforcing steel placement and 8. Calculation
other formwork preparation, fasten the support member to slab 8.1 Calculate the compressive strength of each specimen
forms using nails or screws. Adjust the support member so that using the computed cross-sectional area based on the average
the top of the mold is aligned with the elevation of screed diameter of the specimen. If the length-diameter ratio of the
guides used in striking off the concrete. specimen is 1.75 or less, correct the calculated strength by
NOTE 2—The location of mold assemblies should be noted on project multiplying by the applicable strength correction factor given
drawings for easy location after concrete placement and for identification. in Test Method C42/C42M.
6.2 Place the mold in the support member so that the flange 9. Report
of the mold is uniformly supported by the sleeve to prevent
concrete or mortar from penetrating into the space between the 9.1 Report the following information:
mold and support member. 9.1.1 Identification of structure in which specimens were
cast, identification of specimen, and location of the mold in the
NOTE 3—Insertion of compressible material between the support structure,
member and the mold is permitted to prevent mortar seepage into the
9.1.2 Diameter and length, mm [in.],
annular space.
9.1.3 Maximum load, N [lbf],
7. Procedure 9.1.4 The L/D strength correction factor used,
7.1 Inspect the molds to ensure they are clean and free of 9.1.5 Compressive strength calculated to the nearest 10 psi
any debris or foreign matter. Fill the molds when the concrete [0.1 MPa] after multiplying by the applicable L/D strength
placement progresses to the vicinity of mold location. correction factor, if required,
9.1.6 Type of fracture (see Test Method C39/C39M),
7.2 Consolidation—Consolidate concrete in the mold to 9.1.7 Defects in specimen, or caps, if observed,
simulate the conditions of placement. In normal field construc- 9.1.8 Age of specimen,
tion practice, if the surrounding concrete is consolidated by 9.1.9 Curing methods used,
internal vibration, use the vibrator externally, briefly touching 9.1.10 Initial concrete temperature,
the exterior of the mold support member. Internal vibration of 9.1.11 Maximum and minimum temperature information
concrete in the mold is prohibited except under special obtained at job site to define curing conditions of specimens in
circumstances that shall be explained in the report of test place,
results. Subject the specimen surface to the same finishing as 9.1.12 Detailed descriptions of any internal vibration or
the surrounding concrete. other internal manipulations of the fresh concrete in the mold
7.3 Curing of Specimens—Subject the specimens to the (7.2), and
same curing and treatment as provided to the surrounding 9.1.13 Other information pertaining to job conditions that
concrete. Record maximum and minimum slab surface tem- could affect the results.

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 C873/C873M − 15
10. Precision and Bias operator on the same sample of concrete should not differ from
10.1 Precision—The single-operator coefficient of variation each other by more than 10.0 %5 of their average. Larger
has been found to be 3.5 %5 for a range of compressive differences may be due to improperly prepared specimens or
strength between 10 and 41 MPa [1500 and 6000 psi].6 actual strength differences because of different batches of
Therefore, results of two properly conducted tests by the same concrete or different curing conditions.
10.2 Bias—The bias of this test method cannot be deter-
mined because the strength of a cast-in-place cylindrical
5
These numbers represent, respectively, the (1s %) and (d2s %) limits as specimen can only be obtained by using this test method.
described in Practice C670.
6
This statement was derived from research data reported by Nicholas J. Carino, 11. Keywords
H. S. Lew, and Charles K. Volz in “Early Age Temperature Effects on Concrete
Strength Prediction by the Maturity Method,” ACI Journal, Vol 80, No. 2, 11.1 compressive strength; concrete; cylinder molds ; in-
March–April 1983. place strength

SUMMARY OF CHANGES

Committee C09 has identified the location of selected changes to this test method since the last issue,
C873/C873M–10a, that may impact the use of this test method. (Approved Dec. 1, 2015.)

(1) Section 5.2 was revised.

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