Concrete Q & A: Embedding Aluminum Conduit in Concrete; and Can ASTM C 109 Cube Tests Be Used in Lieu of ASTM C 39 Cylinder Tests?

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Title: Concrete Q & A: Embedding Aluminum Conduit in Concrete; and Can ASTM C 109 Cube Tests Be Used in Lieu of ASTM C 39 Cylinder Tests?

Author(s):

Publication: Concrete International

Volume: 27

Issue: 2

Appears on pages(s): 92

Keywords:

DOI:

Date: 2/1/2005

Abstract:
Embedding Aluminum Conduit in Concrete: We have been asked if aluminum electrical conduit can be embedded in concrete. I know that concrete shouldn’t be pumped through aluminum pipelines because small abraded particles of the aluminum react with calcium hydroxide in the fresh concrete, producing large numbers of hydrogen gas bubbles that can reduce the strength. Is aluminum conduit embedded in the concrete likely to cause this or other problems? Can ASTM C 109 Cube Tests Be Used in Lieu of ASTM C 39 Cylinder Tests?: Chapter 5 of ACI 318-02, “Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete,” deals with concrete quality and requires that concrete be produced to minimize the frequency of strengths below fc'. Section 5.1.2 states that requirements for fc' shall be based on tests of cylinders made and tested as prescribed in ASTM C 31, “Standard Practice for Making and Curing Concrete Test Specimens in the Field,” and ASTM C 39, “Standard Test Method for Compressive Strength of Cylindrical Concrete Specimens.” Instead of using cylinder tests, is it acceptable to use tests on concrete cubes per ASTM C 109, “Standard Test Method for Compressive Strength of Hydraulic Cement Mortars (Using 2-in. [or 50-mm] Cube Specimens)? If this is acceptable, can the cube test results per ASTM C 109 be used “as is,” or do they need to be modified to an equivalent cylinder test result? And if modification is needed, is there an ASTM standard for making the modification?




  

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