Flexural strength test
Introduction:
It is to measure the flexural tensile strength of the concrete. It is a measure of unreinforced concrete beam or slab to resist failure or bending. Acquire an appreciation of the relation between flexural tensile strength and other strengths such as cube compression strength, splitting tensile strength and equivalent cube compressive strength.
Apparatus:
- Compressive testing machine( Fig. 1)
- Flexural loading device( Fig. 1)
- Caliper and
- Straight edge
Fig.1 control panel of testing machine and flexural loading device
Procedures:
- The beam was brought up from the curing tank.
- The surface water and grit were wiped out with a damp cloth.
- The beam was visually inspected for faults and damages.
- Length and cross-sectional dimensions were measured accurately with a caliper.
- Test device was wiped with a dry cloth.
- The beam was put centrally in flexural loading device with the rough as-cast top surface vertical.
- All rolling and supports were in evenly contact with the beam before applying the load.
- Appropriate loading was chosen for the test. The load was increased at a rate between 0.03 to 0.06N/mm2 per second.
- The load was applied without shock and continuously increased until the beam broke.
- The maximum applied force was recorded.
