Evaluation of Sample Preparation Parameters in the Compressive Strength of Cementitious Composites

Abstract

This paper presents an experimental evaluation of how variations in proposed parameters interfere with compressive strength resistance of mortar and concrete specimens. The results were obtained through laboratory tests in which samples were tested under varying conditions. These conditions were as follows: speed of load application (0.25, 0.50, 0.75, and 1.00 MPa/s), environmental conditions (saturated, 2 h dried, and 24 h dried specimens), curing (dry and wet), and specimen ends preparation (sulphur, neoprene, rectification, and without regularization). Comparisons were made on the basis of the compression strength resistance results and the coefficient of variation in order to analyse the homogeneity and dispersion among variables. It was found that in the case of capping, the best results were obtained by the rectification of concrete specimens. In the case of loading speed, the best results were obtained at a speed of 1 MPa/s. Dry curing showed the best results, even though not resulting in the highest resistance. The results for specimen conditions were in accordance with the expectations, with lower dispersion for saturated specimens.