1

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. n all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: C 496/C 496M 04
Standard Test Method for
Splitting Tensile Strength of Cylindrical Concrete
Specimens
1
This standard is issued under the fi!ed designation " #$%&" #$%M' 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope*
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the splitting tensile strength of cylindrical concrete specimens, such as molded
cylinders and drilled cores. *+T, 1-.or methods of molding cylindrical concrete specimens, see /ractice " 1$0 and /ractice
" 11. .or methods of obtaining drilled cores see Test Method " #0.
1.0 The values stated in either inch2pound or S units are to be regarded separately as standard. The S units are shown in
brac3ets. The values stated in each system may not be e!act equivalents' therefore, each system shall be used independently of
the othe r. "ombining values from the two systems may result in nonconformance with the standard.
1.1 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use.
1.# The te!t of this standard references notes that provide e!planatory material. These notes shall not be considered as
requirements of the standard.
1
This test method is under the 4urisdiction of ASTM "ommittee "2$ "5$ on "oncrete and "oncrete Aggregates and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee "5$.%1
on Testing "oncrete for Strength.
"urrent edition approved 6an. 15, 1$$%. .eb. 1, 055#. /ublished March 1$$%. 055#. +riginally published as " #$% 7 %0. approved in 1$%0. 8ast previous edition approved
in 1$$% as " #$% 7 $5%.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.
Copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C00, !e"t Con"hoho#$en, PA 1%&'()'%*%, +nite, State"-
C 496/C 496M 9604
0
2. Referenced Documents
0.1 ASTM Standards:
0
" 11&" 11M /ractice for Ma3ing and "uring "oncrete Test Specimens in the .ield
" 1$&" 1$M Test Method for "ompressive Strength of "ylindrical "oncrete Specimens
" #0&" #0M Test Method for +btaining and Testing 9rilled "ores and Sawed Beams of "oncrete
" 1$0&" 1$0M /ractice for Ma3ing and "uring "oncrete Test Specimens in the 8aboratory
" %:5 /ractice for /reparing /recision and Bias Statements for Test Methods for "onstruction Materials
3. Summary of Test Method
1.1 This test method consists of applying a diametral compressive force along the length of a cylindrical concrete specimen at
a rate that is within a prescribed range until failure occurs. This loading induces tensile stresses on the plane containing the
applied load and relatively high compressive stresses in the area immediately around the applied load. Tensile failure occurs
rather than compressive failure because the areas of load application are in a state of tria!ial compression, thereby allowing them
to withstand much higher compressive stresses than would be indicated by a unia!ial compressive strength test result.
1.0 Thin, plywood bearing strips are used so that to distribute the load is applied uniformly along the length of the cylinder.
1.1 The ma!imum load sustained by the specimen is divided by appropriate geometrical factors to obtain the splitting tensile
strength.
4. Significance and se
#.1 Splitting tensile strength is simpler to determine generally greater than direct tensile strength and lower than fle!ural
strength
(modulus of rupture).
#.0 Splitting tensile strength is used in the design of structural lightweight concrete members to evaluate the shear resistance
provided by concrete in reinforced lightweight aggregate concrete members. and to determine the development length of
reinforcement.
!. Apparatus
;.1 Testing Machine-The testing machine shall conform to the requirements of Test Method " 1$&" 1$M and may be of any
a type of with sufficient capacity that will provide the rate of loading prescribed in :.;.
;.0 Supplementary earing ar or !late- f the diameter or the largest dimension of the upper bearing face or the lower
bearing bloc3 is less than the length of the cylinder to be tested, a supplementary bearing bar or plate of machined steel shall be
used. The surfaces of the bar or plate shall be machined to within % 5.551 in. ( <.50; mm)= of planeness, as measured on any
line of contact of the bearing area. t shall have a width of at least 0 in. (;1 mm), <;5 mm=, and a thic3ness not less than the
distance from the edge of the spherical or rectangular bearing bloc3 to the end of the cylinder. The bar or plate shall be used in
such manner that the load will be applied over the entire length of the specimen.
;.1 earing Strips-Two bearing strips of nominal
1
>? in. (1.0 mm) <1.0 mm= thic3 plywood, free of imperfections,
appro!imately 1 in. (0; mm) <0; mm= wide, and of a length equal to, or slightly longer than, that of the specimen shall be
provided for each specimen. The bearing strips shall be placed between the specimen and both the upper and lower bearing
bloc3s of the testing machine or between the specimen and supplemental bars or plates, if when used (see ;.0). Bearing strips
shall not be reused.
". Test Specimens
%.1 The test specimens shall conform to the si@e, molding, and curing requirements set forth in either /ractice " 11&" 11M
(field specimens) or /ractice " 1$0&" 1$0M (laboratory specimens). 9rilled cores shall conform to the si@e and moisture2
conditioning requirements set forth in Test Method " #0&" #0M. Moist2cured specimens, during the period between their
removal from the curing environment and testing, shall be 3ept moist by a wet burlap or blan3et covering, and shall be tested in
a moist condition as soon as practicable.
%.0 The following curing procedure shall be used for evaluations of light2weight concreteA specimens tested at 0? days shall be
in an air2dry condition after : days moist curing followed by 01 days drying at :1.; % 1.;B. ( <. 5 % 1.:B") 0.5B"= and ;5 %
; C relative humidity.
#. $rocedure
:.1 Mar"ing-9raw diametral lines on each end of the specimen using a suitable device that will ensure that they are in the
same a!ial plane (see .ig. 1, .ig. 0 and *ote 0), 1), or as an alternative, use the aligning 4ig shown in .ig. 1 (*ote 1). 0).
*+T, 01-.igs. 1 and 0 show a suitable device for drawing diametral lines on each end of the specime n a % in. by 10 in. <1;5 mm by 155 mm=
cylinder in the same a!ial plane. The device consists of three parts as followsA
#$% A length of #2in. ( <2 m m ) = steel channel, the flanges of which have been machined flat,
0
.or referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, ww w .astm.o rg, or contact ASTM "ustomer Service at serviceDastm.o rg. .or Annual oo" of ASTM
C 496/C 496M 9604
1
Standards, Eol 5#.50. volume information, refer to the standardFs 9ocument Summary page on the ASTM website.
1
C 496/C 496M 9604
!"# 1 "eneral $ie%s of a S&ita'le (pparat&s for Mar)ing *nd Diameters +sed for (lignment of Specimen in Testing Machine
#&% A section of a tee bar, , section, part a, that is grooved to fit smoothly over the flanges of the channel and that includes a rectangular notch cap
screws for positioning the vertical member of the tee bar assembly, and
#'% A vertical bar, (, containing a longitudinal aperture (cleft), A , part b, for guiding a pencil or mar3e r,
The tee bar assembly (part a and part b) is not fastened to the channel and is positioned at either end of the channel cylinder without disturbing the
position of the specimen when mar3ing the diametral lines.
*+T, 10-.ig. # is a detailed drawing of the aligning 4ig shown in .ig. 1 for achieving the same purpose as mar3ing the diametral lines. The device
consists ofA
#$% A base for holding the lower bearing strip and cylinder,
#&% A supplementary bearing bar conforming to the requirements in Section ; as to critical dimensions and planeness, and
#'% Two uprights to serve for positioning the test cylinder, bearing strips, and supplementary bearing bar.
:.0 Measurements-9etermine the diameter of the test specimen to the nearest 5.51 in. ( <.0; mm)= by averaging three
diameters measured near the ends and the middle of the specimen and lying in the plane containing the lines mar3ed on the two
ends. 9etermine the length of the specimen to the nearest 5.1 in. (0.; mm) <0 mm= by averaging at least two length measurements
ta3en in the plane containing the lines mar3ed on the two ends.
:.1 !ositioning )sing Mar"ed Diametral *ines-"enter one of the plywood strips along the center of the lower bearing bloc3.
/lace the specimen on the plywood strip and align so that the lines mar3ed on the ends of the specimen are vertical and centered
over the plywood strip. /lace a second plywood strip lengthwise on the cylinder, centered on the lines mar3ed on the ends of the
cylinder. /osition the assembly to ensure the following conditionsA
:.1.1 The pro4ection of the plane of the two lines mar3ed on the ends of the specimen intersects the center of the upper bearing
plate, and
:.1.0 The supplementary bearing bar or plate, when used, and the center of the specimen are directly beneath the center of
thrust of the spherical bearing bloc3 (see .ig. ;).
:.# !ositioning by )se of Aligning +ig- /osition the bearing strips, test cylinder, and supplementary bearing bar by means of
the aligning 4ig as illustrated in .ig. 1 and center the 4ig so that the supplementary bearing bar and the center of the specimen are
directly beneath the center of thrust of the spherical bearing bloc3.
:.; ,ate of *oading-Apply the load continuously and without shoc3, at a constant rate within the range 155 to 055 psi&min
(%?$ <5.: to 11?5 3/a&min) 1.# M/a&min= splitting tensile stress until failure of the specimen (*ote #). 1). Gecord the ma!imum
applied load indicated by the testing machine at failure. *ote the type of failure and the appearance of the concrete.
*+T, #1-The relationship between splitting tensile stress and applied load is shown in Section ?. The required loading range in splitting tensile
stress corresponds to applied total load in the range of 11 155 to 00 %55 lbf (;5 <;5 to 155 3*)=&min for % by 102in. (1;0 <1;5 by 15;52mm)=
cylinders.
#
C 496/C 496M 9604
!"# , Detailed -lans for a S&ita'le (pparat&s for Mar)ing *nd Diameters +sed for (ligning the Specimen
!"# . /ig for (ligning Concrete Cylinder and 0earing Strips
%. Ca&cu&ation
?.1 "alculate the splitting tensile strength of the specimen as followsA
T ; 0!&pld (1)
whereA
T H splitting tensile strength, psi (3/a), <M/a=,
! H ma!imum applied load indicated by the testing machine, lbf (3*), <*=,
l H length, in. (m), <mm=, and
d H diameter, in. (m). <mm=.
;
C 496/C 496M 9604
!"# 4 Detailed -lans for a S&ita'le (ligning /ig for 6 'y 1, in# 1120 'y .00 mm3 Specimen
!"# 2 Specimen -ositioned in a Testing Machine for Determination of Splitting Tensile Strength
'. Report
$.1 Geport the following informationA
$.1.1 dentification number,
$.1.0 9iameter and length, in. (m), <mm=,
$.1.1 Ma!imum load, lbf (3*), <*=,
$.1.# Splitting tensile strength calculated to the nearest ; psi (1; 3/a), <5.5; M/a=,
$.1.; ,stimated proportion of coarse aggregate fractured during test,
$.1.% Age of specimen,
$.1.: "uring history,
%
C 496/C 496M 9604
$.1.? 9efects in specimen,
$.1.$ Type of fracture, and
$.1.15 Type of specimen.
1(. $recision and )ias
15.1 !recision-An interlaboratory study of this test method has not been performed. Available research data,
1
however,
suggests that the within batch coefficient of variation is ; C (see *ote ;) #) for % 1 102in. (1;0 1 15;2mm) <1;5 1 1552
mm= cylindrical specimens with an average splitting tensile strength of #5; psi ( <.? M/a)=. Gesults of two properly conducted
tests on the same material, therefore, should not differ by more than 1# C (see *ote ;) #) of their average for splitting tensile
strengths of about #55 psi ( <.? M/a)=.
*+T, ;#-These numbers represent, respectively, the (1s C) and (d0s C) limits as defined in /ractice " %:5.
15.0 ias-The test method has no bias because the splitting tensile strength can be defined only in terms of this test method.
11. *ey+ords
11.1 cylindrical concrete specimens' splitting tension' tensile strength
SMMAR, -. C/A012S
"ommittee "5$ has identified the location of selected changes to this test method since the last issue,
" #$% 7 $%, that may impact the use of this test method. (Approved .ebruary 1, 055#)
($ ) Gevised 1.0.
(& ) Added 1.#.
(' ) Gevised ;.1, %.1, Section 0, and *ote 1 to correct references.
(- ) Gevised ;.0, %.0, :.0, :.;, 15.1, and *ote # by metrication rules.
(. ) Gevised Section #.
(/ ) Gevised 1.0 and ;.1.
(0 ) Gevised *ote 0.
(1) .igs. 1, 0, and # were revised and redrawn.
ASTM International ta$e" no po"ition re"pe#ting the vali,ity o. any patent right" a""erte, in #onne#tion /ith any ite0 0entione,
in thi" "tan,ar,- +"er" o. thi" "tan,ar, are expre""ly a,vi"e, that ,eter0ination o. the vali,ity o. any "1#h patent right", an, the ri"$
o. in.ringe0ent o. "1#h right", are entirely their o/n re"pon"ibility-
Thi" "tan,ar, i" "1b2e#t to revi"ion at any ti0e by the re"pon"ible te#hni#al #o00ittee an, 01"t be revie/e, every .ive year"
an, i. not revi"e,, either reapprove, or /ith,ra/n- 3o1r #o00ent" are invite, either .or revi"ion o. thi" "tan,ar, or .or a,,itional
"tan,ar," an, "ho1l, be a,,re""e, to ASTM International Hea,41arter"- 3o1r #o00ent" /ill re#eive #are.1l #on"i,eration at a
0eeting o. the re"pon"ible te#hni#al #o00ittee, /hi#h yo1 0ay atten,- I. yo1 .eel that yo1r #o00ent" have not re#eive, a .air
hearing yo1 "ho1l, 0a$e yo1r vie/" $no/n to the ASTM Co00ittee on Stan,ar,", at the a,,re"" "ho/n belo/-
Thi" "tan,ar, i" #opyrighte, by ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C00, !e"t Con"hoho#$en, PA 1%&'()
'%*%, +nite, State"- In,ivi,1al reprint" 5"ingle or 01ltiple #opie"6 o. thi" "tan,ar, 0ay be obtaine, by #onta#ting ASTM at the
above a,,re"" or at 710)(8')%*(* 5phone6, 710)(8')%*** 5.ax6, or "ervi#e9a"t0-or g 5e)0ail6: or thro1gh the ASTM /eb"ite
5// / -a"t0-org6-