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Designation: C1604/C1604M − 05 (Reapproved 2012)

Standard Test Method for

Obtaining and Testing Drilled Cores of Shotcrete1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C1604/C1604M; 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 obtaining, preparing, and test- for Test Methods for Construction Materials
ing cores drilled from shotcrete for length, compressive C823 Practice for Examination and Sampling of Hardened
strength, or splitting tensile strength determinations. Concrete in Constructions
C1140 Practice for Preparing and Testing Specimens from
1.2 The values stated in either inch-pound units or SI units Shotcrete Test Panels
shall be regarded separately as standard. SI units are shown in C1231/C1231M Practice for Use of Unbonded Caps in
brackets. The values stated in each system may not be exact Determination of Compressive Strength of Hardened Con-
equivalents; therefore, each system must be used indepen- crete Cylinders
dently of the other. Combining values from the two systems
may result in nonconformance with the standard. 2.2 ACI Standards:3
318 Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete
1.3 The text of this standard references notes and footnotes 506.2 Specification for Shotcreting
that provide explanatory material. These notes and footnotes 506.4R Guide for the Evaluation of Shotcrete

iTeh Standards
(excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be considered
as requirements of the standard. 3. Terminology
1.4 This standard does not purport to address the safety
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3.1 For definitions of terms used in this standard, refer to
concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
Terminology C125.
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and

limitations prior to use. Document Preview

health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
4. Significance and Use
4.1 This test method provides standardized procedures for
2. Referenced Documents obtaining cored specimens to determine the compressive
2 ASTM C1604/C1604M-05(2012)
strength and splitting tensile strength of shotcrete during
2.1 ASTM Standards:
https://standards.iteh.ai/catalog/standards/sist/173586fa-0658-46aa-9600-1f206582bf67/astm-c1604-c1604m-052012
C39/C39M Test Method for Compressive Strength of Cylin- pre-construction, during construction, and from older shotcrete
drical Concrete Specimens structures.
C42/C42M Test Method for Obtaining and Testing Drilled 4.2 Generally, test specimens are obtained in situ when
Cores and Sawed Beams of Concrete doubt exists about the in-place shotcrete quality due either to
C125 Terminology Relating to Concrete and Concrete Ag- low strength test results during construction or signs of distress
gregates in the structure. Other uses of this method are to provide
C174/C174M Test Method for Measuring Thickness of Con- specimens for acceptance testing, construction control and to
crete Elements Using Drilled Concrete Cores assess the condition, quality and uniformity of the shotcrete in
C496/C496M Test Method for Splitting Tensile Strength of accordance with Practice C823 (see Note 1).
Cylindrical Concrete Specimens 4.3 Specimens obtained by this method are used to verify
C617 Practice for Capping Cylindrical Concrete Specimens the thickness of shotcrete and aid in the visual assessment of
the shotcrete quality, workmanship, defects, shotcrete-to-
1
substrate bond and the condition of any reinforcement used in
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C09 on
Concrete and Concrete Aggregates and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee the shotcrete.4
C09.46 on Shotcrete.
Current edition approved April 1, 2012. Published November 2012. Originally
approved in 2005. Last previous edition approved in 2005 as C1604/C1604M–05.
3
DOI: 10.1520/C1604_C1604M-05R12. Available from American Concrete Institute (ACI), P.O. Box 9094, Farmington
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or Hills, MI 48333-9094, http://www.concrete.org.
4
contact ASTM Customer Service at [email protected]. For Annual Book of ASTM Bartlett, F. M., and MacGregor, J. G., “Effect of Core Diameter on Concrete
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Core Strengths,” ACI Materials Journal, Vol 91, No. 5, September–October 1994,
the ASTM website. pp. 460–470.

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1
 C1604/C1604M − 05 (2012)
4.4 Shotcrete strength is affected by the location of the 6.1.1 Sampling shall be planned in accordance with the
shotcrete in a structure. Vertical, sub-horizontal and overhead applicable provisions of Practice C823. The number of
elements of the shotcrete structure may show variability. Core samples, sample locations and sampling procedures shall be
strength is affected by core orientation relative to direction of established in the plan.
shotcrete application. These factors shall be considered in 6.1.2 Shotcrete samples obtained from test panels shall be in
planning the locations for obtaining shotcrete samples and in accordance with the applicable provisions of Practice C1140.
interpreting strength test results. 6.1.3 Samples of hardened shotcrete for use in the prepara-
4.5 Shotcrete is applied in single or multiple layers, as plain tion of strength test specimens shall not be taken until the
shotcrete, reinforced shotcrete, or fiber-reinforced shotcrete. shotcrete is strong enough to permit sample removal without
Core samples containing wire-mesh and reinforcing bars shall disturbing the bond between the mortar, coarse aggregate (see
not be used for compressive strength testing. Note 3) and fiber-reinforcement. When preparing strength test
specimens from samples of hardened shotcrete, samples that
4.6 The strength of shotcrete is affected by moisture content, have been damaged in the process of removal shall not be used.
the specified moisture conditioning procedure for cores is Specimens of defective shotcrete that cannot be tested shall be
intended to provide test specimens with reproducible moisture reported as such if the defects are representative of the in-place
contents that minimize within-laboratory and between- condition of the shotcrete (see ACI 506.4R).
laboratory variations.
NOTE 3—It is not possible to specify a minimum age when shotcrete is
4.7 Sample acquisition may require a combination of core- strong enough to withstand damage during removal, because the strength
drilling, sawing, and grinding that may have the potential to at any age depends on the strength grade and curing of the shotcrete. If
adversely affect the sample condition if care is not taken during accelerating admixtures are used during shotcrete application, core speci-
sampling and testing. mens may be obtained for testing at approximately 6 h. If this is not
practical, removal of shotcrete can proceed if cored or cut surfaces do not
4.8 A sampling plan shall be established that indicates the display erosion of the mortar and the exposed coarse aggregate particles
number of samples and their locations (see Note 1). The are embedded firmly in the mortar. Nondestructive test methods may be
used to estimate level of in-place strength development prior to attempting
acceptance criteria for shotcrete core strengths shall be estab- removal of shotcrete core samples (see ACI 506.4R).

iTeh Standards
lished by the specifier of tests (see Note 2).
6.1.4 Specimens containing embedded reinforcement shall
NOTE 1—Practice C823 provides guidance on the development of a not be used for determining compressive or splitting tensile

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sampling plan for concrete in constructions. A number of methods that
strength.
supplement the examination of hardened shotcrete by means of represen-
tative core samples and testing are discussed in ACI 506.4R. 6.2 Core Drilling—Drill core specimens perpendicular to

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NOTE 2—The core strength acceptance criteria cited in ACI 318 are the surface and avoid drilling near formed joints or edge
based on a comparison of molded cylinder specimens and cores. Shotcrete
strengths are always based on core specimens, therefore the 85 % factor
placement. Record the approximate angle between the drilled
used in core to cylinder comparisons is not relevant to the evaluation of core axis and the plane of the shotcrete as placed.
shotcrete core strengths. A typical shotcrete specification reflecting stan-
dard industry practice is contained in ACI 506.2.ASTM C1604/C1604M-05(2012) 7. Measuring the Length of Drilled Cores
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7.1 Cores for determining the thickness of shotcrete layers
5. Apparatus or other structural elements shall have a diameter of at least 3.0
5.1 Core Drill, for obtaining cylindrical core specimens in. [75 mm] when the lengths of such cores are to be measured
with diamond impregnated bits attached to a core barrel. The in accordance with Test Method C174/C174M.
core drill shall have a rigid mounting base and be capable of 7.2 For cores that are not intended for determining structural
being operated in any orientation normal to the shotcrete dimensions, measure the longest and shortest lengths on the cut
structure that is being sampled. The core drill shall be free from surface along lines parallel to the core axis. Record the average
excessive vibration when in operation and shall have sufficient length to the nearest 1⁄4 in. [5 mm].
torque and consistent rotational speed to sustain uniform rates
of penetration of the core drill. The core barrel shall be cooled 8. Cores for Compressive Strength
and core cuttings flushed with water during operation. 8.1 Diameter—The diameter of core specimens for the
5.2 Saw, for cutting core specimens to size for compressive determination of compressive strength in load bearing struc-
strength. The saw shall have a diamond or silicon carbide tural members shall be at least 3.0 in. [75 mm] (see Note 4).
cutting edge and shall be capable of cutting plain and rein- Core diameters less than 3.0 in. [75 mm] shall be permitted as
forced specimens in a single pass that conform with the directed by the specifier of the tests.
prescribed dimensions, without excessive heating or shock. NOTE 4—The compressive strengths of 2-in [50-mm] diameter cores are
known to be somewhat lower and more variable than those of 3-in.
5.3 Grinding wheel, to trim and clean plain and fiber- [75-mm] diameter cores. In addition, smaller diameter cores appear to be
reinforced shotcrete specimens that conform to prescribed more sensitive to the effect of the length-diameter ratio4.
tolerances without significantly disturbing the aggregates, ma- 8.2 Length—The preferred length of the capped or ground
trix or fiber-reinforcement. specimen is nominally two times the diameter.
8.2.1 If the ratio of the length to the diameter (L/D) of the
6. Sampling core exceeds 2.1, reduce the length of the core so that the ratio
6.1 General: of the capped or ground specimen is between 1.9 and 2.1. Core