This practice provides standardized requirements for preparation of materials, mixing concrete, and making and curing concrete test specimens under laboratory conditions.

If specimen preparation is controlled as stipulated herein, the specimens may be used to develop information for the following purposes:

3.2.1 Mixture proportioning for project concrete,

3.2.2 Evaluation of different mixtures and materials,

3.2.3 Correlation with nondestructive tests, and

3.2.4 Providing specimens for research purposes.

Note 1—The concrete test results for concrete specimens made and cured using this practice are widely used. They may be the basis for acceptance testing for project concrete, research evaluations, and other studies. Careful and knowledgeable handling of materials, mixing concrete, molding test specimens, and curing test specimens is necessary. Many laboratories performing this important work are independently inspected or accredited. Practice C 1077 identifies and defines duties, responsibilities, including minimum responsibilities of the laboratory personnel and minimum technical requirements for laboratory equipment used. Many laboratories ensure qualified technicians by participating in national certification programs such as the American Concrete Institute Laboratory Technician Program or an equivalent program.

1.1 This practice covers procedures for making and curing test specimens of concrete in the laboratory under accurate control of materials and test conditions using concrete that can be consolidated by rodding or vibration as described herein.

1.2 The values stated in either inch-pound units or SI units shall be regarded separately as standard. The SI units are shown in brackets. The values stated in each system are not exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of each other. Combining values from the two systems may result in nonconformance.

This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. (Warning-Fresh hydraulic cementitious mixtures are caustic and may cause chemical burns to exposed skin and tissue upon prolonged exposure.)