Commonwealth of Pennsylvania PA Test Method No.

606
Department of Transportation March 2016
Page 1

Laboratory Testing Section

Method of Test for

OBTAINING AND TESTING DRILLED CORES OF CONCRETE

1. Scope

1.1 This method covers the procedures for obtaining, preparing, and testing cores
drilled from concrete for length or for compressive strength determinations. This method
replaces previously referenced AASHTO T 24 regarding obtaining and drilling cores of concrete

2. Apparatus

2.1 Core drill, for obtaining cylindrical core specimens diamond drill shall be used.

3. Sampling

3.1 General. Do not take samples of hardened concrete for use in the preparation of
strength test specimens until the concrete has reached sufficient compressive strength to permit
sample removal without disturbing the bond between the mortar and the coarse aggregate. In
general, the concrete shall be 14 days old before the specimens are removed. Cores submitted
for ev a l u a t i o n o f c o m p r e s s i v e s t r e n g t h m u s t b e a t l e a s t 2 8 d a y s o l d . When
preparing strength-test specimens from samples of hardened concrete, do not submit samples
that show abnormal defects or samples that have been visibly damaged in the process of
removal (Note 1).

NOTE 1 - Utilize a pachometer to locate reinforcement. Cores for determining compressive

strength that contain embedded reinforcement can yield either higher or lower values than cores without
embedded steel and will not be tested with reinforcement present. Cores containing reinforcement can
be submitted for testing, provided they are sufficient in length to obtain a L/D of 1.00 after removal of
the reinforcement.

3.2 Core Drilling. A core specimen taken perpendicular to a horizontal surface shall
be located, when possible, so that its axis is perpendicular to the bed of the concrete as
originally placed. A specimen taken perpendicular to a vertical surface, or perpendicular to a
surface with a batter, shall be taken from near the middle of a unit of deposit when possible,
and not near formed joints or obvious edges of a unit of deposit.

4. Length of Drilled Core Specimens

4.1 Length of Specimens. A core specimen for the determination of length shall
have a diameter of at least 2 in.
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania PA Test Method No. 606
Department of Transportation March 2016
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4.2 Procedure for Length Determination. Measure the lengths of cores in accordance
with the provisions of the Method of Measuring Length of Drilled Concrete Cores
(PTM 614).

5. Compressive Strength

5.1 Test Specimens. The diameters of core specimens for the determination of
compressive strength should be at least 3 times the maximum nominal size of the coarse
aggregate used in the concrete, and must be at least twice the maximum nominal size
of the coarse aggregate. Obtain the largest practical sized diameter core as possible while
avoiding interference and damage or cutting of any structural reinforcement.
The length of the specimen, when capped, shall be as nearly as practicable twice
its diameter. A core having a maximum height of less than 95% of its diameter before
capping or a height less than its diameter after capping shall not be tested. Cores
submitted for compressive strength testing shall be not less than 2 nor greater than 6 in
diameter. Obtain permission from the District Materials Engineer/Manager or Chief
Structural Materials Engineer (for precast or prestressed concrete members) if cores less
than 4 in diameter shall be submitted for compressive strength testing.

5.2 End Preparation. The ends of the specimens to be tested in compression shall
be essentially smooth, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and of the same diameter as the
body of the specimen. If necessary, saw or tool the ends of the specimens until the following
requirements are met:

5.2.1 Projections, if any, shall not extend more than 0.2 in. above the normal plate.

5.2.2 The planes of the ends shall not depart from perpendicularity to the
Longitudinal axis by more than 5 degrees.

5.2.3 The diameters of the ends shall not depart more than 0.1 in. from the mean
diameter of the specimen.

5.3 Moisture Conditioning. Completely submerge the test specimens in

lime-saturated water at 73.4 3.0 F for 48 +/- 2 hours prior to performing the compression
test. Test the specimens promptly after removal from water storage. During the period
between removal from water storage and testing, keep the specimens moist by covering with
a wet blanket or burlap or other suitable absorbent fabric.

5.4 Capping. Before making the compression test, cap the ends of the
specimens in conformance with procedure prescribed in AASHTO T-231. The
capped surfaces of the specimens shall conform to the planeness requirements of PTM 611.
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania PA Test Method No. 606
Department of Transportation March 2016
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5.5 Measurement. Prior to testing, measure the lengths of the capped specimens to the
nearest 0.1 in.. Determine the average diameters by averaging two measurements taken at right
angles to each other about the mid-height of the specimens. Measure core diameters to the
nearest 0.01 in. whenever possible, but at least to the nearest 0.1 in.

5.6 Testing. Test the specimens in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Method
of Test for Compressive Strength of Molded Concrete Cylinders (PTM 604).

5.7 Calculations. Calculate the compressive strength of each specimen using the computed
cross-sectional area based on the average diameter of the specimen and any other applicable
factors from Table 1 below. If the ratio of length to diameter of the specimen exceeds 2.00, it
shall be reduced to as close to 2.00 as practical without exceeding 2.00. LTS will analyze the
results for extreme values using PTM 4 at the 5% significance level and compute the average
compressive strength, F cores, after discarding any individual extreme values.

The in-place strength of the concrete is computed using equation 5-7:

Equation 5-7: Fc = F core x F ld x F dia x F mc
Equation 5-8: Fcores = Fcore/n

where:

Fc: factored in-place concrete strength of each core as computed by Equation 5-7
F core: unfactored compressive strength of individual core
F ld: standard correction factor as indicated in Table 1.0
F dia: variable correction factor based on core diameter as indicated in Table 1.0
F mc: standard correction factor as indicated in Table 1.0
n: total number of cores to be averaged to determine in place concrete strength,
averaged to nearest whole psi
F cores: average computed in-place concrete strength

Table 1.0 Magnitude and accuracy of strength correction factors for

converting core strengths into equivalent in-place strengths.

Primary Factor Secondary Factor, if applicable 3 Correction Factor

F ld: L/D ratio N/A 1 {0.117 - Fcore}(2 L/D)
Fdia: Core Diameter 2 in. 1.06
4 in. 1.00
6 in. 0.98
F mc: core moisture content Soaked 48 (+/- 2 hrs) in water 1.09

: Constant () equals 3 x 10 ^ - 6
See section 5.1
3
Utilize the correction factors for the actual core size received:
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Department of Transportation March 2016
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Correction
Core dia., in. factor, Fmc
2 1.06
2 1/8 1.06
2 1/4 1.05
2 3/8 1.05
2 1/2 1.04
2 5/8 1.04
2 3/4 1.03
2 7/8 1.03
3 1.03
3 1/8 1.02
3 1/4 1.02
3 3/8 1.01
3 1/2 1.01
3 5/8 1.01
3 3/4 1.01
3 7/8 1.00
4 1.00
4 1/8 1.00
4 1/4 1.00
4 3/8 0.99
4 1/2 0.99
4 5/8 0.99
4 3/4 0.99
4 7/8 0.99
5 0.99
5 1/8 0.98
5 1/4 0.98
5 3/8 0.98
5 1/2 0.98
5 5/8 0.98
5 3/4 0.98
5 7/8 0.98
6 0.98
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania PA Test Method No. 606
Department of Transportation March 2016
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5.8 Report. Report the results as required by PTM 604 with the following
information:

5.8.1 Length of test specimen before and after capping, individual core
diameter, in-place concrete strength (Fcore) as computed using equation 5-7 and
average in-place concrete strength (Fcore avg)

5.8.2 Compressive strength to the nearest 10 psi when the diameter is measured
To the nearest 0.01 in. and to the nearest 50 psi when the diameter is nearest 0.1 in., after
correction for length-diameter ratio when required,

5.8.3 Direction of application of the load on the specimen with respect to the
horizontal plane of the concrete as placed, and

5.8.4 The moisture condition at the time of testing.

6. References

AASHTO: T-24
AASHTO: T-231
ASTMC42
ACI 214.4R-10

End of PTM 606

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania PA Test Method No. 606
Department of Transportation March 2016
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