Concrete cylinder break type explained

Concrete cylinders are often used in the construction industry to test the compressive strength of concrete. When a concrete cylinder is tested, it may break in one of several ways, which can provide important information about the properties of the concrete. Here are some common types of concrete cylinder breaks and what they can indicate:

Type 1 (a). Cone Break: This occurs when the top of the concrete cylinder breaks off in a cone shape. This type of break indicates that the concrete is too wet or that the cylinder was not properly prepared before testing.

Type 2 (b). Cone and Split: Well formed cone on one end, vertical cracks running through caps, no well defined cone on other end. Type 3 (c). Columnar Break: This occurs when the concrete cylinder fractures along a vertical plane through both ends, no well formed cones. This type of break indicates that the concrete has poor tensile strength or that the cylinder was not properly aligned during testing. Type 4 (d). Shear Break: This occurs when the concrete cylinder fractures diagonally. This type of break indicates that the concrete has poor shear strength or that there was an alignment issue during testing. Type 5 (e). Corner Break: This occurs when the concrete cylinder has side fractures at top or bottom of cylinder. This type of break indicates that the concrete is of low strength and may have misalignment. Type 6 (f). Corner Break: Similar to type 5, this occurs when the concrete cylinder has side fractures at top or bottom of cylinder only. This type of break indicates that the concrete is of low strength and may have misalignment.

Overall, the type of break that a concrete cylinder experiences during testing can provide important insights into the properties of the concrete being tested. By analyzing the break type, construction professionals can make informed decisions about how to adjust their concrete mix or improve their testing procedures to produce stronger and more reliable concrete structures.