BS 1881 is a British Standard series that discusses methods for testing of concrete. The main aim of the BS 1881 series is to provide best industry recommendation on tests to determine whether your concrete and concrete products are fit for purpose.
BS 1881-207 is the 207th part of the series that gives gives recommendations on tests that are designed to assess the strength of concrete by causing localized failure in a small zone, typically up to 75 mm from the surface, according to the method. The recommendations cover the following test methods:
BS 1881-207 on the concrete strength assessment by near-to-surface tests is relevant to:
Concrete strength is by far the most important mechanical property of concrete to be considered if you wish to obtain adequate durability performance. Evaluating the concrete strength is vital when it comes to determining overall concrete performance, to ensure your materials exhibit the necessary properties to contribute to the structural integrity of your construction works.
In this regard, the near-to-surface tests recommended in BS 1881-207 can be used to assess the concrete strength. Pull-off tests measure the force required to pull a metal block from the concrete surface to which it has been attached using a high strength adhesive. The break-off test measures the transverse force required to break off a core drilled 70 mm into the concrete surface. Meanwhile, the penetration resistance test is based on measuring how far a hardened pointed metal rod penetrates into a concrete surface when fired into it by a driver unit similar to a gun.
Methods of establishing correlations between near-to-surface tests and strength is also covered in BS 1881-207.
Thus, by accurately determining the concrete strength with BS 1881-207-compliant near-to-surface tests, you can evaluate whether or not your products and materials are fit for purpose.
Adopting BS 1881-207, can be particularly beneficial when it comes to material testing for quality control, to determine whether the materials can contribute to the overall concrete strength, durability and performance when exposed to stress and loads.