ASTM C803/C803M-18 PDF Download

ASTM C803/C803M-18 is a standard test method for determining the penetration resistance of hardened concrete. This test is used to assess the uniformity of concrete and identify areas of poor quality or deteriorated concrete in structures. It can also be used to estimate the in-place strength of concrete, provided that a relationship between penetration resistance and concrete strength has been established through experimental testing. It is important that the relationship is established using similar concrete materials and mixture proportions as the structure being tested. The test apparatus used should also be similar to the one used during construction.

The test involves driving steel probes or pins into the hardened concrete using a high-energy powder-actuated driver or a low-energy spring-actuated driver, respectively. It should be noted that the penetration resistance is affected by both concrete strength and the nature of the coarse aggregate. Steel probes may penetrate some aggregate particles, while pins are designed to only penetrate the mortar fraction. Therefore, if a pin strikes a coarse aggregate particle, the test result is disregarded.

It is important to mention that this test method may result in surface damage to the concrete, which may require repair, especially for exposed architectural finishes. Therefore, caution should be exercised when conducting this test on finished concrete surfaces.