The cylinder splitting test as a method for determining the compressive strength of concrete

Research into the effects of concrete cracking caused, for instance, by alkali—silica reaction, has shown that the cylinder splitting or Brazilian test does not reflect the tensile strength but rather the compressive strength as would be measured from prisms with a height/width ratio of about 3. This Paper demonstrates that the cylinder splitting test may be used as a compression test using the appropriate bearing width, which is derived to be about one-seventh of the cylinder's diameter. If the bearing width is increased above one-third of the cylinder's diameter with special loading platens, the effective height/width ratio is reduced resulting in the same enhancement of measured compressive strength as occurs in the standard cube test. Practical use of the method in relation to alkali—silica reaction is described and the consequences are stated.