Relations between indirect tensile and flexural strengths for dry and plastic concretes

Abstract

Indirect tensile strength is not usually used for concrete mixtures proportioning and its technological control; flexural strength tests under third point loads arrangement are the pattern for such goals. Indeed, neither of such tests have the capability to set up the actual strength of a concrete slab since its response is under plane stress state. A critical review of the basic concepts on both kinds of tests allows foreseeing its limitations as well as how to overcome such shortcomings. At last correlations between the two kinds of tensile strength are presented considering dry and plastic concretes typically applied on paving, corroborating to former results achieved for plastic concretes.