Age and Strength of Concrete

Concrete Strength and Age:
As per IS 456:2000 Cl 6.2.1 and 6.2.1.1
There is normally a gain of strength beyond 28 days. The quantum of increase depends upon the grade
and type of cement, curing and environmental conditions, etc. The design should be based on 28 days
characteristic strength of concrete unless there is a evidence to justify a higher strength for a particular
structure due to age. (Cl 6.2.1)
For concrete of grade M30 and above, the rate of increase of compressive strength with age shall be
based on actual investigations. (Cl 6.2.1.1)
Reference Book “Steel- Reinforced Concrete Structures- Assessment and Repair of Corrosion by
Mohamed A. El-Reedy”
Effect of Age on Concrete Strength:
Another value affects concrete structure reliability: the strength of concrete. The concrete member
capacity is usually a function of concrete cross-section dimensions, the steel bar area, the concrete
compressive strength, and the steel reinforcement yield strength. After some years, the concrete
element will deteriorate due to corrosion of the steel bars, which will reduce the steel cross section. The
yield strength will be the same with time, but the concrete cross-section will be less effective due to
concrete cracks and high reduction on the section in cases of falling concrete cover.
There is something to gain: the concrete strength. Much research has discussed this in detail based on
environmental conditions, which need to be addressed in detail in order to have a sense about
reinforced concrete structure’s reliability. In practice, one can see a deteriorated structure with
corrosion on the steel bars without complete failure. With time, the concrete strength is increased; this
increase in strength compensates for some of the member strength due to reduction in the steel cross-
section area. One should not be satisfied with making a concrete design because of knowledge that the
steel bars are carrying more load; any reduction on it will be very risky, so one should not depend on
gaining strength on concrete with time. However, it does need to be taken into consideration.
Much research has been done to predict concrete strength after 28 days. In the majority of cases, the
tests are conducted at concrete age of 28 days, when its strength is considerably lower than its long-
term strength will be. Different methods have been suggested to predict concrete strength with age and
different codes have different recommendations for predicting this strength. For example, Baykof and
Syglof (1976) compared the gain strength of concrete specimens stored in wet and dry conditions. They
found that, in dry conditions, after 1 year there is no increase in concrete strength. On the other hand,
the strength of specimens stored in a wet environment (at 15 0C) is considerably increased.
In Madison, Wisconsin, Washa and Wendt (1975) tested concrete specimens stored in special
environmental conditions to predict the concrete strength with age and found a valuable result. The
specimens were moist cured for 28 days before placement outdoors on leveled ground in an uncovered,
open location. Thermocouple data indicated that the outdoor compressive cylinders were subjected to
about 25 cycles of freezing and thawing each winter. The relative humidity normally varied from 65-
100% with an average of 75%. The annual precipitation, including snowfall, was about 32in. Air
temperatures usually ranged between 25 and 900F (32 and 350C). The average compressive strength
with time is shown in the figure below:
Washa and Wendt (1989) concluded that the compressive strength of concrete cylinders made with
cement that had a relatively low C2S content, had a high surface area, and was stored outdoors for 50
years generally increased as logarithm of the age for about 10years. After 10years, the compressive
strength decreased or remained essentially the same. MacGregor (1983) used the same stidy and
formulated an equation of the relation between compressive strength and age; in the case of 28 days
specified compressive strength of concrete, this is equal to 281.5kg/cm2 (27.6 Mpa). The corresponding
mean of compressive strength at 28 days is 292.7kg/cm2 (28.7 Mpa).
fc(t)= 158.5+40.3ln(t) kg/cm2 ……….for t<10 years
= 489 kg/cm2…………. For t>= 10 years
Where fc(t) is the concrete compressive strength with time and t is the time in days.
Statistical analysis of long-term concrete strength:
The effect of concrete maturity, based on a number of studies of the longtime strength gain of concrete
representative of lower bound relationship between age and strength of various classes of concrete,
was obtained, these tended to show a linear relationship between strength and the logarithm of age.
For lower strength concrete, 25 years’ strength approaching 240% of the 28-day strength was observed
by Washa and Wendt in 1975. For high-strength concrete, the strength of old concrete approached 125-
150% of the 28-day strength.

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Concrete Strength and Age:

As per IS 456:2000 Cl 6.2.1 and 6.2.1.1

Effect of Age on Concrete Strength:

fc(t)= 158.5+40.3ln(t) kg/cm2 ……….for t<10 years

= 489 kg/cm2…………. For t>= 10 years

Statistical analysis of long-term concrete strength:

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