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Effect of Size and Shape of Test Specimens on Mechanical Strength of

Concrete

Conference Paper · February 2021

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 6th International Conference on Engineering Research, Innovation and Education
School of Applied sciences & Technology, SUST, Sylhet

ICERIE-2021-184

Effect of Size and Shape of Test Specimens on Mechanical

Strength of Concrete

• S. Rahman1,*, M. M. Islam2, Z. Karim2, K. M. Hasan2, M. N. Ajim2, M. A. Bhuyan2

and T. Barua2
1
Faculty, Department of Civil Engineering, Port City International University, 7-14, South
Khulshi, Chattogram, Bangladesh, Email: [email protected]
2
Undergraduate Student, Department of Civil Engineering, Port City International University,
Chattogram, Bangladesh
*Corresponding author [S. Rahman]

Abstract: Before the construction work it is mandatory to cast standard

Keywords:
concrete specimen on the site and then test them for required strength. The
size of the concrete specimens is maintained conforming to ASTM standards.
• Concrete; Two shapes of concrete specimens such as cylinder and cube are used in this
• Cube; purpose. The obtained strengths from the concrete specimens can be
influenced by the size and shape of the specimens. In this study, an
• Cylinder; experimental investigation was conducted to study the size and shape effects
• Compressive of concrete test specimens on mechanical strength of concrete. Cylinder
specimens of 6"X12" and 4"X8" and cube specimens of 6"X6"X6" and
strength; 4"X4"X4" were casted for three target compressive strength of 2000 psi,
• Split tensile 3000 psi and 4000 psi. A total of 36 nos. samples (9 nos. 4"X4"X4" cube, 9
nos. 6"X6"X6" cube, 9 nos. 4"X8" cylinders and 9 nos. 6"X12" cylinder)
strength. have been casted for compressive strength test and a total of 18 nos. samples
(9 nos. 4"X8" cylinders and 9 nos. 6"X12" cylinder) have been casted for
split tensile strength test. . A total of 54 nos. samples (18 nos. 6"X12"
cylinders; 18 nos. 4"X8" cylinder; 9 nos. 6"X6"X6" cube and 9 nos.
4"X4"X4" cube) have been prepared and tested for compressive strength,
splitting tensile strength. After testing the cube and cylinder specimens on
universal testing machine (UTM) of 1000 kN capacity, it was observed that,
the smaller size cube specimen (4"X4"X4") has higher compressive strength
than that of larger sizes (6"X6"X6") and the same tendency was followed for
the cylindrical specimens. Again, the minor size cylinder specimen (4"X8")
has shown higher split tensile strength than that of greater sizes (6"X12").
The variation was in between 8.88% to 9.13% for compressive strength and
for split tensile strength the variation was found as an average of 30.93%.

1. Introduction
Concrete compressive strength can be affected by diverse factors, such as specimens’ sizes,
their shapes, the moulds used for casting, curing conditions and rate of load application
(Neville, 2002). It is well established that for a specific mix, compressive strength of concrete
varies depending on shape and/or size of concrete test specimens (Neville, 1966). Size and

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 Rahman, et al., 2020
Effect of Size and Shape of Test Specimens on Mechanical Strength of Concrete

shape effect and the factors influencing them were also studied by Tokyay and Ozdemir (1997).
They also explained the fact of getting low strength of very small size specimen compared to
large size specimen, which is a contradiction as small size specimen shall have higher apparent
compressive strength.
The cylinder specimen of concrete (150 diameter and300 height) is a standard specimen to test
the compressive strength in United State. While in Britain and Europe, the standard specimen
for testing the compressive strength is a cube specimen of concrete by size 150×150×150 mm
(Jin-keum and Seong, 2002). While cylindrical specimens 150×300 mm (6×12 in.) are used
mostly in Australia, Canada, France, New Zealand and the United States, cubic specimens of
300 mm (6 in.) and 100 mm (4 in.) are used generally in India and Europe (Yakkali and Reddy,
2015).
Lessard and Aitcin (1992) found that the compressive strength of cylinders of 150 mm dia. by
300 mm height was about 94% that of cylinders of 100 mm dia. by 200 mm height. Baalbaki et
al. (1992) repeated the experiment on a total of 126 cylinders and found that the strength of the
cylinders of 150mm dia. was 93% that of cylinders of 100 mm dia.
Size and shape effect and the factors influencing them were also studied by Tokyay and
Ozdemir (1997). They also explained the fact of getting low strength of very small size
specimen compared to large size specimen, which is a contradiction as small size specimen
shall have higher apparent compressive strength.
In this research, concrete cylinders of 6"X12" and 4"X8" and concrete cubes of 6"X6"X6" and
4"X4"X4" were casted to observe the size and shape effects of concrete test specimens on
concrete strength properties. The objectives of the study were to examine the compressive
strength and split tensile strength of concrete with various shapes of test specimens and to
identify the variation in concrete strength with changes in shape of test specimens.
2. Experimental
2.1 Materials
Ordinary Portland cement was used and specific gravity was determined. Sylhet Sand was used
as fine aggregate (FA) and tested for specific gravity, absorption capacity and gradation.
Crushed stones of 19 mm downgrade were used as coarse aggregates (CA) and tested for
specific gravity, absorption capacity, dry rodded unit weight and gradation. All the test results
are stated in Table-1.
Table-1: Test results of different materials.
Materials Name of material tests Results
Cement Specific gravity (ASTM C188-16) 3.21
2.53 (OD)
Specific gravity (ASTM C127-15)
2.57 (SSD)
Coarse aggregates Absorption capacity (ASTM C127-15) 1.50%
Dry rodded unit weight (ASTM C29-C29M-17) 88.64 lb/ft3
Gradation (ASTM C33-C33M-16e1) FM = 6.15
2.42 (OD)
Specific gravity (ASTM C128-15)
2.47 (SSD)
Fine aggregates
Absorption capacity (ASTM C128-15) 2.40%
Gradation (ASTM C778-13) FM = 2.46
2.2 Mix design
____________________________________________________________________________
Rahman*, S., Islam, M., M., Karim, Z., Hasan, K., M., Ajim, M., N., Bhuyan, M., A. and Barua, T.;
([email protected])

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International Conference on Engineering Research and Education
School of Applied sciences & Technology, SUST, Sylhet

From the results of materials tests, ACI mix designs were conducted targeting 2000, 3000 and
4000 psi compressive strength of concrete. The obtained mix design ratios are stated in Table-2.
The detailed mix amount is shown in Table-3 for respective mix design.
Table-2: Mix design results.
Concrete Compressive Strength 2000 psi 3000 psi 4000 psi
C: FA: CA 1: 3.3: 4.3 1: 2.4: 3.4 1: 1.7: 2.8
W/C 0.50 0.40 0.33

Table-3: Detailed mix amount.

Concrete Compressive Strength 2000 psi 3000 psi 4000 psi
Water (lb) 190.48 190.48 190.48
Cement (lb) 378.38 474.60 583.33
FA (lb) 1266.03 1151.83 978.9
CA (lb) 1618.48 1618.48 1618.48
3453.37 lb/yd³ 3435.39 lb/yd³ 3371.19 lb/yd³
Total
(127.90 lb/ft3) (127.23 lb/ft3) (124.85 lb/ft3)

2.3 Casting and Curing

Fig-1: Slump test of concrete.

As shown in Fig-1, concrete slump test was conducted for the calculated mix design ratios and
w/c values. For all three mix designs the slumps values were found acceptable as stated in
Table-2. All the concrete cubes and cylinders were than casted following the appropriate mix
design ratios.
Table-2: Slump value for different mix design ratio.
Ratio Slump (mm)
1: 3.3: 4.3 32
1: 2.4: 3.4 36
1: 1.7: 2.8 40

Fig-2: Concrete specimens. Fig-3: Concrete specimens after curing.

____________________________________________________________________________
Rahman*, S., Islam, M., M., Karim, Z., Hasan, K., M., Ajim, M., N., Bhuyan, M., A. and Barua, T.
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 Rahman, et al., 2020
Effect of Size and Shape of Test Specimens on Mechanical Strength of Concrete

The shapes of the cubes and cylinders those were casted for compressive and split tensile
strength test are shown in Fig-2. The concrete specimens were cured after casting and the
specimens after curing are shown in Fig-3.
2.4 Compressive Strength Test
The concrete specimens were tested for both compressive strength (ASTM C39-C39M-17) and
split tensile strength (ASTM C496-C496M-04) with respective ages of curing as 7, 14 and 28
days in Universal Testing Machine (UTM) of capacity of 1000 KN as shown in Fig-4.

Fig-4: Compressive strength and split tensile strength test in UTM.

3. Result and Discussions

5000 2000 psi 6"X12" 2000psi 4"X8" 3000 psi 6"X12"
4500 3000psi 4"X8" 4000 psi 6"X12" 4000psi 4"X8"

4000 2000 psi 6"X6"X6" 2000psi 4"X4"X4" 3000 psi 6"X6"X6"

3500 3000psi 4"X4"X4" 4000 psi 6"X6"X6" 4000psi 4"X4"X4"

Comprressive strength (psi)

3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
7 days 14 days 28 days
Curing periods
Fig-5: Comparison between compressive strength for different mix design and different specimen types
with respect to curing periods.
From Fig-5, it can be seen that for both 2000 psi and 3000 psi concrete the compressive strength
was found as an average of 8.88% more for 4"X8" cylinders than for 6"X12" cylinders in 28
days of curing periods. For 3000 psi concrete the strengths were similar. Again, for cube
specimens the compressive strength was found increased with an average of 9.13% in 28 days
of curing for 4"X4"X4" cubes than for 6"X6"X6" cubes in all compressive strengths of 2000,
3000 and 4000 psi.

____________________________________________________________________________
Rahman*, S., Islam, M., M., Karim, Z., Hasan, K., M., Ajim, M., N., Bhuyan, M., A. and Barua, T.;
([email protected])

585
International Conference on Engineering Research and Education
School of Applied sciences & Technology, SUST, Sylhet

300
2000 psi 6"X12" 2000psi 4"X8"
250 3000 psi 6"X12" 3000psi 4"X8"
4000 psi 6"X12" 4000psi 4"X8"
200
Split tensile strength (psi)

150

100

50

0
7 days 14 days 28 days
Curing periods
Fig-6: Comparison between split tensile strength for different mix design and different specimen types
with respect to curing periods.
From Fig-6, it can be stated that the split tensile strength was found increased with an average
of 30.93% for 4"X8" cubes compared to 6"X12" cubes in 28 days of curing for 2000, 3000 and
4000 psi concrete.
4. Conclusion
The following conclusion can be drawn based on this study:
a. The smaller size cylinder specimen showed higher compressive and split tensile strength
than that of the larger size specimen for the same concrete mix. The same trend is obtained
for cube specimens for compressive strength.
b. The size of the mould also played a vital role on the variation of the compressive and split
tensile strength. Both for cylinder and cube specimens both the compressive and split
tensile strength were found higher for concrete casted with smaller mould because of better
compaction.
c. As the size of the specimens becomes smaller the area available for the load application
becomes smaller too. Thus, the compressive and split tensile strength increases for smaller
cube and cylinder specimens as the same load applies on smaller area compared to large
area for larger specimens.
d. The strength variation may be influenced by the unit weight of the different shapes of the
specimens. Unit weight of cylindrical specimens is reasonably higher than that of cube
specimens and showed less strength. Similarly, larger size cylinder and cube specimens
have established unit weight than that of smaller size specimens and also showed less
strength.
Acknowledgment
The authors are indebted to Department of Civil Engineering, Port City International University,
Chattogram, Bangladesh for giving the opportunity to use the Engineering Materials Laboratory
accommodations for the experimental works.

____________________________________________________________________________
Rahman*, S., Islam, M., M., Karim, Z., Hasan, K., M., Ajim, M., N., Bhuyan, M., A. and Barua, T.
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 Rahman, et al., 2020
Effect of Size and Shape of Test Specimens on Mechanical Strength of Concrete

References
ASTM C29-C29M-17 Standard test method for bulk density (“unit weight”) and voids in
aggregate.
ASTM C33-C33M-16e1 Standard Specification for Concrete Aggregates.
ASTM C39-C39M-17 Standard test method for compressive strength of cylindrical concrete
specimens.
ASTM C127-15 Standard test method for density, relative density (specific gravity), and
absorption of coarse aggregate.
ASTM C128-15 Standard test method for relative density (specific gravity) and absorption of
fine aggregate.
ASTM C188-16 Standard test method for density of hydraulic cement.
ASTM C496-C496M-04 Standard test method for tensile strength of cylindrical concrete
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ASTM C778-13 Standard specifications for standard sand.
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Rahman*, S., Islam, M., M., Karim, Z., Hasan, K., M., Ajim, M., N., Bhuyan, M., A. and Barua, T.;
([email protected])

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