GUIDELINES FOR USING REBOUND HAMMER TO ESTIMATE SEPTIC TANK CONCRETE COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH

April, 1990

The rebound hammer can provide a fairly accurate estimate of concrete compressive strength. Because it is a nondestructive testing device, it can be used on finished concrete structures, such as precast concrete septic tanks. However strict procedures must be followed if the test results are to have any validity. These are summarized below.
1. Concrete Age:

The concrete should be 14 to 56 days old. Accurate readings may be possible sooner for a higher strength concrete mix, but 3,500 PSI concrete should not be tested until at least two weeks after pouring old concrete (two months or greater) should be tested only after the outer surface has been ground down 1/4 to 1/2 inch. 2. Surface Condition: The surface of the concrete at the point tested must be smooth, dry, and free of honeycombing. Otherwise, rebound readings will be low Indicating a weaker concrete than is actually the case. The rubbing stone provided can be used to grind the surface smooth, if necessary. 3. Location of Test Points: The concrete to be tested must be at least four inches thick: It is also recommended that readings be taken only where the concrete has been in contact with the form. These conditions are most easily satisfied if the readings are taken along the edge of the tank on the sides and ends where the adjoining concrete face (i.e., wall, top, or bottom) can support the point of contact. Care must be taken that the actual test points are no closer than one inch from the edge of the tank or from another test point. Readings should never be taken on the tank top or bottom. 4. Testing Procedure: a. Remove hammer from case and press the plunger end against a hard surface to release the plunger from the locked position. (Do not press lock button while doing this.)

b. Position hammer horizontally with plunger end against tank at a point which satisfies the criteria of paragraph 3 above. c. Slowly apply pressure until hammer fires. This will occur when only approximately 1/2 inch of the plunger is still visible. Do not press the lock button during this step. d. With the hammer still pressed against the tank, read the rebound number off the scale provided on the hammer. If it is necessary to move the hammer before reading, press the lock button. The rebound number should be read to two significant figures. (e.g., 26, 31, 35) e. Repeat the above procedure at different points around the tank until a total of ten readings has been taken. 5. Interpretation of Results: Calculate the average of the ten readings. If any single reading differs from the average by more than seven units, discard it and recalculate average using the remaining readings. If more than two readings differ from the average by more than seven units, discard all readings and test the tank again. Compare the average reading with the table provided below and round off to the nearest increment of 50 to obtain the concrete strength. The state sewage rules require that the tank reach a minimum concrete compressive strength of 3,000 PSI before the tank is installed. Allow for some inaccuracies in the use of the rebound hammer, it is recommended that the minimum average rebound value of 29.5 be used as the criterion for acceptance of new tanks. For tanks older than 28 days, a minimum average rebound value of 32.0 is recommended for acceptance.

Example: Rebound readings = 31, 33, 36, 35, 34, 39, 45, 32, 35 Average reading = 32.8; discard reaching 45 and recalculate. Average reading = 34.5 concrete compressive strength = 3,800 PSI

REBOUND HAMMER VALUE VS. COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH

R 20.0 20.5 21.0 21.5 22.0 22.5 23.0 23.5 24.0 24.5 25.0 25.5 26.0 26.5 27.0 27.5 28.0 fc 1,220 1,295 1,370 1,445 1,520 1,600 1,680 1,760 1,840 1,925 2,010 2,095 2,180 2,270 2,360 2,450 2,540 R fc
TWW/dh 4/90

R 28.5 29.0 29.5 30.0 30.5 31.0 31.5 32.0 32.5 33.0 33.5 34.0 34.5 35.0 35.5 36.0 36.5

fc 2,630 2,720 2,820 2,920 3,015 3,110 3,215 3,320 3,420 3,520 3,615 3,710 3,815 3,920 4,030 4,140 4,250

R 37.0 37.5 38.0 38.5 39.0 39.5 40.0 40.5 41.0 41.5 42.0 42.5 43.0 43.5 44.0 44.5 45.0

fc 4,360 4,460 4,560 4,570 4,780 4,890 5,000 5,115 5,230 5,340 5,450 5,560 5,670 5,785 5,900 6,015 6,130

= Rebound hammer value = Concrete compressive strength in PSI