CORRELATION BETWEEN REBOUND-HAMMER COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH AND SURFACE RESISTIVITY OF CONCRETE AT DIFFERENT CURING AGES
Abstract
Compressive strength and resistance to chloride ingress largely determine whether a concrete element performs throughout its service life, yet both are traditionally assessed by slow, sample-consuming procedures. This study examines how two non-destructive indicators, rebound-hammer compressive strength and four-point Wenner surface resistivity, develop with curing age and how closely they correlate. Two mixes, M10 (1:3:6) and M15 (1:2:4), were produced at a constant water-to-cement ratio of 0.5, and eighteen 150 mm cubes were tested at 7, 14 and 28 days in accordance with ASTM C805 and AASHTO T358. Compressive strength rose from 6.21 to 9.94 N/mm² (M10) and from 9.01 to 15.02 N/mm² (M15), while surface resistivity increased from 5.36 to 13.08 k?·cm and from 7.41 to 18.52 k?·cm, respectively. One-way analysis of variance confirmed that curing age significantly affected both properties (p < 0.05). Both mixes migrated from the “high” toward the “moderate” chloride-penetrability band of AASHTO T358, although neither reached the “low” class by 28 days. A significant linear relationship, fc = 0.611? + 3.456 (r = 0.933, R² = 0.870, p < 0.01), predicted strength from resistivity with a mean error below 10%, and grade-specific models fitted more tightly (R² ? 0.98). Resistivity readings were far more repeatable than rebound readings, with coefficients of variation of about 5-9% against 18 to 25% of rebound hammer readings. The findings support the combined use of both techniques for rapid, simultaneous screening of strength and durability, while cautioning that rebound estimates at low strengths remain indicative.
KEYWORDS: Non-destructive testing, rebound hammer, surface resistivity, compressive strength, chloride ion penetration, curing age
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