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Tamkang Journal of Science and Engineering, Vol. 12, No. 1, pp.

1-7 (2009)

Estimating the Strength of Concrete Using


Surface Rebound Value and Design Parameters of
Concrete Material
Jen-Chei Liu, Mou-Lin Sue and Chang-Huan Kou*
Department of Civil Engineering and Engineering Informatics Chung-Hua University,
Hsin Chu, Taiwan 300 R.O.C.

Abstract
This study estimates the strength of concrete, an attempt is also made to increase the accuracy
of Calculating the strength, using the nondestructive test (NDT) surface hardness rebound value,
material design parameters and regression analysis. The strength of the concrete specimens was
130-480 kgf/cm2, and their ages were 7-38 days. In total, 166 standard specimens of concrete were
grouped into 146 training examples and 20 test examples to estimate concrete compressive strength.
Regression analysis was performed to establish a mathematical formula. Study results indicate
that the correlation coefficient may reach 0.9622, indicating that the proposed method has referential
value. Therefore, engineers may use this comprehensive approach to develop NDTs to determine
concrete strength.
Key Words: Strength of Concrete, Rebound Value, Design Parameters, Regression Analysis

1. Introduction
Concrete has significantly influenced the nature of
engineering projects. Concrete, as a composite material,
is generally composed of cement, sand, aggregate, water,
mineral admixtures and chemical admixtures.
Considerable work has been conducted to develop
rapid, nondestructive tests (NDTs) that provide a reproducible measure of concrete quality in a structure [1].
Unfortunately, as is usually the case in concrete testing,
all these NDT generate results that are affected by various parameters such as aggregate type and size, age, moisture content, and mix proportions [1]. Therefore, the
correlation between measured properties and strength
differs for various concretes and must be limited to the
concrete in question. However, the NDTs are also convenient and have been used for many years in quality management of engineering materials. These tests are useful
in determining the differences in concrete quality from
*Corresponding author. E-mail: chkou@chu.edu.tw

one part of a structure to another. Developed in Germany


in 1930, the rebound hammer test (RHT), based on ASTM
C805 and BS 4408 Part 4, can be utilized for testing concrete surface hardness [1,2]. In 1948, Schmidt developed
the Schmidt rebound hammer test [3,4]. This device is
universally used because of a hardened steel hammer impacted on the concrete by a spring. The RHT is a convenient NDT. The surface of hardened concrete is struck
with the hammer, and concrete compressive strength is
estimated via the surface hardness rebound value. In 1979,
the ASTM listed the rebound hammer testing method
(ASTM C 805-79) as a standard testing method, explaining that this method can be used to estimate the uniformity of concrete and detect areas of inferior quality within
a concrete structure; however, it is not a substitute for
concrete strength testing methods. The general view held
by many users of the Schmidt rebound hammer is that it
is useful in assessing concrete uniformity and in comparing
one concrete against another, but can only be used as a
rough indication of concrete strength in absolute terms [1].
When the RHT is performed, kinetic energy from the

Jen-Chei Liu et al.

impact and amount of lost kinetic energy affect the rebound value. Typically, the amount of energy lost during
contact between the pole and concrete must be determined via the stress-strain relationship of the concrete;
therefore, rebound energy is correlated with the concrete
strength and rigidity. However, the accuracy of RHT need
to be improved in real applications when estimating concrete strength using the surface rebound value.
Low strength concrete will have a low rebound value. However, when two concrete specimens have the
same strength and different rigidities, the resulting rebound values may not equal each other [5]. The amount
of energy lost with low-rigidity concrete is greater than
that lost with high-rigidity concrete. The reason for this
difference may be associated with material parameters.
For instance, the amount of coarse aggregate and how
aggregate is mixed in a concrete mixture affect the concrete rigidity, thus affecting the rebound value.
Thus, this study analyzes the proportions in concrete
mixtures. Design parameters are used as input data to
create a rebound model, to enhance the accuracy of determining concrete strength.
In the conventional material modeling process, regression analysis is an important tool for constructing a
model. In this study, seven design parameters, i.e. amounts
of cement, coarse aggregate, fine aggregate, slag, fly ash,
chemical admixture, water-to-binder ratio (X1-7) and rebound value of concrete, were used to build the regression formula.

categorized as follows. (1) Measure 20 distributed test


points and calculate the average. (2) Take 5 points, perform 4 measurements at each point, and calculate the average. (3) For a single point, perform HRT 20 times and
calculate the average. The largest mean rebound value in
this study is the rebound value used as input data .The
largest rebound value obtained using method (3) 20 tests
are made at the same point and calculate the average.
In this model, 146 concrete specimens with different
mixture proportions are used as raw data. Regression analysis is applied to the variables (Table 1). Table 1 lists the
ranges of values for applied parameters.
Regression analysis was utilized to construct a model
for estimating the concrete strength.
(2) Model Confirmation
When the model was completed, 20 sets of test data
are used to determine the accuracy of regression esti-

2. Experimental Work
Figure 1 presents the research flow chart. The compressive strength of concrete is estimated using the statistical regression analysis model.
Additionally, the root mean square of error (RMSE)
and coefficient of determination are used to determine
model reliability. The research method is as follows:
(1) The rebound value with concrete design parameters, using statistical regression to find the compressive strength. Statistical regression is used to
identify compressive strength based on the rebound
value and concrete design parameters.
In total, 146 specimens with different mixture proportions are made in this study. Different methods for the
HRT of standard cylinders ( = 15 cm, L = 30 cm) are

Figure 1. Research flow chart.

Estimating the Strength of Concrete Using Surface Rebound value and Design Parameters of Concrete Material

Table 1. Regression analysis output and input variables (The lower and upper bounds of each component)
Variable

Component

Input variable X 1
Input variable X 2
Input variable X 3
Input variable X 4
Input variable X 5
Input variable X 6
Input variable X 7
Input variable X 8
Input variable X 9
Input variable X 1 0
Output variable Y

Range of values

Cement ( k g / m )
Coarse aggregate ( k g / m 3 )
Fine aggregate ( k g / m 3 )
Slag ( k g / m 3 )
Fly ash ( k g / m 3 )
Chemical admixture ( k g/ m 3 )
Water-to-binder ratio
Age (days)
Moisture content (%)
Rebound value (n)
Compressive strength (kgf/cm2 )

mates. The absolute deviation values and percentages are


utilized for comparisons with true values. As the absolute deviation values and percentages decreases, the degree of difference between the predicted compressive
strength and true compressive strength decreases, and
model accuracy increases. Thus, the accuracy of the model
is confirmed.

140-280
0807-1031
790-910
060-150
040-110
1.7-8.6.
0.45-0.62
07-38
0.015-0.060
12-30
130-480

sive strength of concrete. In this model, statistical regression analysis is applied to all data collected for the 146
concrete samples. The resulting regression is as follows:
Y = 1237.66 0.695 (X1) 0.292 (X2) 0.501 (X3)
0.530 (X4) 1.117 (X5) + 1.013 (X6)
606.478 (X7) + 3.673 (X8) 30.994 (X9)
+ 12.887 (X10)
(2)

3. Findings and Analysis


Input parameters employed in this study include moisture content. The influence of moisture content on rebound value is 99-50% (average 24%). The different
methods for the RHT applied to standard cylinders ( 15
cm, L30 cm) are as follows. For one point, apply the
RHT 20 times and calculate the average.
Test results indicate that rebound value increases by
20-70% when multiple tests are made on the same point,
with method (3) (20 tests on the same point). Applied to
all data collected for the 146 concrete samples, the resulting regression (equation of Single Point estimation)
is as follows:
y = 23.085x - 145.02

where Y is concrete compressive strength and X1 is


amount of cement; Table 1 presents X2-10.
By employing the regression equation formulated in
this study, which incorporates material design parameters such as age and moisture content, errors of estimated
and actual values of concrete compressive strength. Obtained from the regression analysis reasoning formula
and the accuracy are high.
To test the results of the regression analysis, this examines the RMSE as a criterion for evaluating the extent
of data error in regression analysis. The RMSE formula
is

(1)

(3)

where y is compressive strength, x is the rebound value,


and the correlation coefficient is 0.916.
With method (3) (20 tests on the same point), concrete compressive strength values directly deduced from
the single rebounding point deviate by 1-53% (average
11%) (strength error, 27.26 kgf/cm2 ).
The rebound value with designed parameters and
statistical regression are used to estimate the compres-

where
Tij = the test output value of the jth order on the ith sample
Oij = the objective output value of the jth order on the ith
sample
n = sample number
N = number of output variables

Jen-Chei Liu et al.

Table 2 lists the parameter values obtained, by regression analysis for regression, residual error, and total
results analysis for statistical regression. The F- value is
168.5738 and the P-value is 3.97E-71. The P-value for
this model is far smaller than the standard level of significance (a = 0.05); therefore, significance is excellent, indicating that the regression line is valid.
The correlation coefficient is 0.9622 for this model,
and the coefficient of determination (R2) is 0.9258, RMSE
is 24.088, and goodness of fit is good. Thus, a very strong
positive relationship exists between independent and dependent variables.
Table 3 shows the correlation coefficients for each
input material parameter. Table 3 also lists the effects of
ingredients on concrete mixes and other input variables
on concrete compressive strength. A positive correlation
exists between rebound value, age, cement, slag, chemical admixture, and fly ash amount; concrete compressive

strength is compared with correlation coefficients of regression analysis (Table 3). Table 3 also lists the effects
of ingredients on concrete mixes and other input variables on concrete compressive strength. Table 3 shows
the test results of 20 repetitive measurements (of the concrete sample-Rebound value, age, cement, slag, fly ash
and chemical admixture) are all positively correlated with
concrete compressive strength, and have correlation coefficients of 0.916, 0.738, 0.431, 0.362, 0.248 and 0.331,
respectively. The water-to-binder ratio, moisture content,
course aggregate and fine aggregate are all negatively
correlated with concrete compressive strength, and have
correlation coefficients of -0.455, -0.417, -0.296 and
-0.289, respectively. The trend of correlation coefficients
generally complies with the physical and chemical characteristics of concrete with general aggregates. As too
many variables are included in this regression analysis,
correlation coefficients are 0.455-0.916. Thus, this stu-

Table 2. The residual error of regression analysis table


Degrees of freedom

Sum of squares

Value of mean square

F value

P-value

010
135
145

978139.3
78332.92
1056472

97813.93
580.2439

168.5738

3.97E-71

Regression
Residual error
Total

Remarks: The F-value and P-value are regression parameters of regression analysis.

Table 3. Correlation coefficients for each ingredient


Cement
Cement
Coarse
Aggregate
Fine Aggregate
Slag
Fly Ash
Chemical
Admixture
Water-tobinder Ratio
Age
Moisture
Content
Rebound Value
Compressive
Strength

Coarse
Fine
Slag
Aggregate Aggregate

WaterFly Chemical
Moisture Rebound Compressive
to-binder Age
ash Admixture
Content Value
Strength
Ratio

1.000
-0.395

1.000

-0.673
0.457
0.459
0.394

-0.221
-0.777
0.203
-0.227

1.000
-0.186
-0.644
-0.301

1.000
0.010 1.000
0.185 0.757

1.000

-0.895

0.382

0.656

-0.558 -0.698

-0.630

1.000

-0.109
-0.399

-0.037
0.314

0.133
0.270

0.017 -0.074
-0.384 -0.175

0.036
-0.299

0.088 1.000
0.411 -0.157

0.479
0.431

-0.333
-0.296

-0.320
-0.289

0.386 0.261
0.362 0.248

0.342
0.331

-0.489
-0.455

1.000

0.604 -0.452
0.738 -0.417

1.000
0.916

1.000

Estimating the Strength of Concrete Using Surface Rebound value and Design Parameters of Concrete Material

dy takes the largest correlation coefficient as an example


for discussion. A maximum positive correlation, 0.916,
exists between rebound value and concrete compressive
strength. Water-to-binder ratio, coarse aggregate, sand
amount and concrete compressive strength of concrete are
negatively correlated.
The correlation coefficient for rebound value is 0.9622,
which is higher than correlation coefficients for other variables. Furthermore, in standardizing residual errors for
rebound values (Figure 2), the distribution of residual errors has a central tendency, and no pattern exists in residual errors. No problem of serial correlation exists;
thus, the model is permissible.
Figure 3 shows the correlation between compressive
strength and rebound value; the coefficient of determination for this model is 0.9258, indicating that the difference between expected values and estimated values is not
large. The RMSE for this model is 24.1 kg/cm2.
Additionally, from the normal distribution of com-

pressive strength estimated by sample percentages (Figure 4), specify has an approximate straight-line graph
with little variation. Figure 4 shows the accumulated percentage for strengths of different specimens in 146 training examples in the model developed in the study with
actual compression strength values of 131-477 kgf/cm2 .
Concrete compressive strength in this study approximates
a normal distribution; this is also confirmed from the fact
that, with 20 test examples, an error percentage of 026% exists when compressive strength is 148.9-402.5
kgf/cm2 average error is only 5.43% and strength deviation is only 13.05 kgf/cm2 . Thus, the data are approximately normally distributed. The difference between expected values and estimated values is not large, suggesting that the regression analysis is valid.
However, when the seven design parameters (X1-7),
age (X8) and moisture content (X9) of concrete also used
as input variables in this model, the correlation coefficient increased to 0.9622.

Testing

Figure 2. Standardization of residual error for the rebound


value.

Figure 3. Correlation between compressive strength and rebound value.

Testing the statistical regression model


By employing the regression equation formulated in
this study, which incorporates material design parameters such as age and moisture content, errors of estimated
and actual values of concrete compressive strength vary
at 0-26% (average, 5.43%) (Table 4), of which the accuracy is more than double that estimated with 20 tests applied to one point (equation (1)).
Table 4 Compares the accuracy of regression estimates with true compressive strength. Finally, this study
organizes test results for the regression model. Based on
test results, the regression analysis estimates, absolute

Figure 4. Normal distribution of compressive strength estimated by sample percentage.

Jen-Chei Liu et al.

Table 4. Compares the accuracy of regression estimates with true values


Item
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Mean value

Concrete compressive
strength (kgf/cm2)

Regression formula
estimates (kgf/cm2)

279
356
437
202
225
189
352
345
325
331
150
281
168
251
161
150
285
345
320
314

270.3
355.5
402.5
217.2
284.2
219.3
357.1
344.1
314.5
340.2
148.9
285.7
148.9
219.3
160
160
295.9
342.6
314.5
314.4

error mean values is 13.045 kgf/cm2, absolute error percentage is 5.43%, and the correlation coefficient is 0.9258.
Obtained from the regression analysis reasoning formula
and the accuracy thereby obtained are high.
Study results show that the accuracy of regression
formula is based on known parameters of material mixture proportions involving fly ash, slag and the chemical
admixture. The range of estimating strength is 130-480
kgf/cm2. Thus, the established estimation model has better accuracy than the equation (1).
The quality of the cement paste produced is primarily an inverse function of the water-cement ratio
(w/c). Restated, concrete strength is a function of total
void content of the material [6]. The accuracy of the established estimation model is based on known parameters of material mixture proportions, involving fly ash,
slag and chemical admixture [7].
Pozzolanic materials are known to enhance the uniformity of concrete. Adding fly ash to the mix introduces
a variable that increases paste quality and, consequently,
overall concrete quality. Many studies have shown that
when the water-binder ratio (w/b) is used instead of the
water-cement ratio as the basis for mix design, the accuracy of the strength prediction increases [8,9].

Absolute error value

Absolute error percentage

() 8.7
() 0.5
() 34.5
(+) 15.2
(+) 59.2
(+) 30.3
(+) 5.1
() 0.9
() 10.5
(+) 9.2
() 1.1
(+) 4.7
() 19.1
() 31.7
() 1
(+) 10
(+) 10.9
() 2.4
() 5.5
(+) 0.4
13.045

3%
0%
8%
8%
26%
16%
1%
0%
3%
3%
1%
2%
11%
13%
1%
7%
4%
1%
2%
0%
5.43%

4. Conclusion and Recommendations


The following conclusions are based on analyses
and discussions.
1. Through multiple statistical regression analyses of
estimating concrete compressive strength using the
rebound value model, a real scaling RMSE of 24.08
kgf/cm2 was obtained. When the seven design parameters (X1-7), age (X8) and moisture content
(X9) of concrete are input variables in this model,
the correlation coefficient increased to 0.9622. This
indicates that combining the rebound hammer test
value with design parameters of composite concrete materials and using statistical regression analysis to estimate concrete strength has an average
accuracy of within an error of 5.5%.
2. Simulation and test results of compound material
parameters processed by the statistical regression
formula indicate that using statistical regression
with the surface hardness rebound value, and design parameters of concrete materials increases the
accuracy when estimating concrete strength.
3. Study results show that, regarding surface hardness rebound value (an NDT) and design para-

Estimating the Strength of Concrete Using Surface Rebound value and Design Parameters of Concrete Material

meters of materials for estimating concrete strength,


the accuracy of Calculating concrete strength is
based on input design parameters of materials involved, such as water-binder ratio, fly ash, slag,
chemical admixture, age, and moisture content.

References
[1] Mindess, Sidney. and Young, J. F., Concrete PreticeHall, Inc, Englewood Cliffs N. J., p. 441 (1981).
[2] Kumar, Mehta, P. and Paulo, J. M., Monteiro Concrete Structure, Properties, and Methods, p. 347 (1987).
[3] Schmide. E.,The Concrete Test Hammer (Der Betom
pruf hammer), Schweiz Bauz (Zurich) Vol. 68, p. 378
(1950).
[4] Schmide, E., The Concrete Szlerometer, Proc, Int,
Symp, Nodestructive, Testing on Material and Structures Vol. 2, RILEM, Paries, p. 310 (1954).
[5] Lin, I.-C., The Test Concrete Strength the Non-Destruction Test Technology, the Taiwan area mixes the

concrete industry trade association published conference proceeding in advance, pp. 23-25 (1999).
[6] Aitcin, P. C. and Neville, A., High Performance Concrete Demystified, ACI Concrete International, Vol.
15, ACI, pp. 21-26 (1993).
[7] Yeh, I.-C., Computer-Aided Design for Optimum
Concrete Mixture, Cement and Concrete Composites,
Vol. 29, pp. 193-202 (2007).
[8] Yeh, I.-C., Modeling Slump Flow of Concrete Using
Second-Order Regressions and Artificial Neural Networks, Cement and Concrete Composites, Vol. 29,
pp. 474-480.
[9] Yeh, I.-C., Analysis of Strength of Concrete Using
Design of Experiments and Neural Networks, Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, ASCE, Vol. 18,
pp. 597-604 (2006).

Manuscript Received: Apr. 24, 2007


Accepted: Jun. 27, 2008

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