Title:
Considerations for Potential Use of Nuclear DensityGages on Concrete
Author(s):
K. W. Nasser and D. E. Dolan,
Publication:
Materials Journal
Volume:
86
Issue:
2
Appears on pages(s):
145-149
Keywords:
air entrainment; compressive strength; density (mass/volume); concrete; density measurement; measuring instruments; mix proportioning; Materials Research
DOI:
10.14359/2307
Date:
3/1/1989
Abstract:
The principal intention of this study was to decide if the potential use of nuclear density gages to estimate concrete density might produce results worthy of accurate engineering interpretation. As such, it was important to verify the degree to which the proportions of mixture components affect the interrelationship of density, air content, and compressive strength of concrete to establish the precision of concrete-density estimate required to determine in situ air content or predict potential compressive strength. Once this required precision was found, it was briefly compared with the precision to be expected of industry standard nuclear density gages. An extensive testing program was carried out that covered a wide range of water-cement and aggregate-cement ratios. The results indicate that if a nuclear density gage can measure the density of concrete to within plus or minus one percent, a value that such a device should be capable of, then the air content and compressive strength of that concrete can be estimated to within an acceptable range.