Designation: D 1635 – 00 (Reapproved 2006)

Standard Test Method for

Flexural Strength of Soil-Cement Using Simple Beam with
Third-Point Loading 1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 1635; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope* D 1632 Practice for Making and Curing Soil-Cement Com-

1.1 This test method covers the determination of the flexural pression and Flexure Test Specimens in the Laboratory3
strength of soil-cement by the use of a simple beam with D 3740 Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies
third-point loading. Engaged in the Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock
as Used in Engineering Design and Construction
NOTE 1—For methods of molding soil-cement specimens, see Practice E 4 Practices for Force Verification of Testing Machines
D 1632.
1.2 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded 3. Terminology
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical 3.1 Definitions:
conversions to inch-pound units, which are provided for 3.1.1 For common definitions of terms in this standard, refer
information only and are not considered standard. to Terminology D 653.
1.2.1 The converted inch-pound units use the gravitational
system of units. In this system, the pound (lbf) represents a unit 4. Significance and Use
of force (weight), while the unit for mass is slugs. The 4.1 This test method is used to determine the flexural
converted slug unit is not given, unless dynamic (F = ma) strength of soil-cement. Flexural strength is significant in
calculations are involved. pavement design and is used to determine slab thickness.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
NOTE 2—The quality of the result produced by this standard is
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the dependent on the competence of the personnel performing it, and the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- suitability of the equipment and facilities used. Agencies that meet the
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- criteria of Practice D 3740 are generally considered capable of competent
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. and objective testing/sampling/inspection/etc. Users of this standard are
cautioned that compliance with Practice D 3740 does not in itself assure
2. Referenced Documents reliable results. Reliable results depend on many factors; Practice D 3740
provides a means of evaluating some of those factors.
2.1 ASTM Standards: 2
D 653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained 5. Apparatus
Fluids
5.1 Testing Machine—The testing machine may be of any
type having sufficient capacity and control to provide the rate
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D18 on Soil and
of loading (prescribed in 7.2). It shall conform to the require-
Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.15 on Stabilization by ments of Section 15 of Practices E 4. The testing machine shall
Admixtures. be equipped with a spherically seated head block having a
Current edition approved May 1, 2006. Published June 2006. Originally bearing surface of at least 75 % of the width of the beam but
approved in 1959. Last previous edition approved in 2000 as D 1635 – 00.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
not greatly in excess of the width of the beam. The movable
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
3
the ASTM website. Withdrawn.

*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

1
 D 1635 – 00 (2006)
portion of this block shall be held closely in the spherical seat, 7. Procedure
but the design shall be such that the bearing face may be 7.1 Turn the specimen on its side with respect to its molded
rotated freely and tilted through small angles in any direction. position and center it on the lower half-round steel supports,
5.2 The third-point loading method used in making flexure which have been spaced apart a distance of three times the
tests of soil-cement shall employ bearing blocks that will depth of the beam. Place the load-applying block assembly in
ensure that forces applied to the beam will be vertical only and contact with the upper surface of the beam at the third points
applied without eccentricity. A diagrammatic drawing of an between the supports. Carefully align the center of the beam
apparatus that accomplishes this purpose is shown in Fig. 1. with the center of thrust of the spherically seated head block of
The apparatus shall be designed to incorporate the following the machine. As this block is brought to bear on the beam-
principles: loading assembly, rotate its movable portion gently by hand so
5.2.1 The distance between supports and points of load that uniform seating is obtained.
application shall remain constant for a given apparatus. 7.2 Apply the load continuously and without shock. A screw
5.2.2 The direction of the reactions shall be parallel to the power testing machine, with the moving head operating at
direction of the applied load at all times during the test. approximately 0.02 mm/s (0.05 in./min) when the machine is
5.2.3 The load shall be applied at a uniform rate and in such running idle, may be used. With hydraulic machines adjust the
a manner as to avoid shock. loading to such a constant rate that the extreme fiber stress is
5.2.4 The directions of loads and reactions may be main- within the limits of 690 6 39 kPa/min (100 6 5 psi). Record
tained parallel by judicious use of linkages, rocker bearings, the total load of failure of the specimen to the nearest 40 N (10
and flexure plates. Eccentricity of loading can be avoided by lbf).
use of spherical bearings.
8. Measurement of Specimens After Test
6. Test Specimens 8.1 Make measurements to the nearest 0.25 mm (0.01 in.) to
determine the average width and depth of the specimens at the
6.1 The standard test specimens shall be beams 76 by 76 by section of failure.
290 mm (3 by 3 by 111⁄4 in.), but a similar test method may be
used for testing specimens of other sizes. Test the specimens on 9. Calculations
their sides with respect to their molded position. 9.1 If the fracture occurs within the middle third of the span
6.2 Make flexural tests of moist cured specimens as soon as length, calculate the modulus of rupture as follows:
practicable after removing them from the moist room, and
R 5 PL/bd2
during the period between removal from the moist room and
testing keep the specimens moist by a wet burlap or blanket where:
covering. R = modulus of rupture, kPa (psi),
NOTE 3—Other conditioning procedures, such as soaking in water, air
P = maximum applied load, N (lbf),
or oven drying, alternate wetting and drying or alternate freezing and l = span length, mm (in.),
thawing, may be specified after an initial moist curing period. Curing and b = average width of specimen, mm (in.), and
conditioning procedures shall be given in detail in the report. d = average depth of specimen, mm (in.).
6.3 Check the smoothness of the side faces of the beams at NOTE 4—Mass of the beam is not included in the above calculation.
the points where loads will be applied with a straightedge. If 9.2 If the fracture occurs outside the middle third of the span
necessary, cap the faces to meet the requirements of Section 15 length by not more than 5 % of the span length, calculate the
of Practice D 1632. modulus of rupture as follows:

FIG. 1 Diagrammatic View of Apparatus for Flexure Test of Soil-Cement by Third-Point Loading Method

2
 D 1635 – 00 (2006)
TABLE 1 Precision 10.1.5 Defects, if any, in specimen,
10.1.6 Age of specimen, and
Average flexural Standard Coefficient of
strength, psi deviation, variation, %
10.1.7 Details of curing and conditioning periods, and water
psi content at time of test.
Specimens with 6 % cement 94 6 6.4
Specimens with 14 % cement 157 9 5.7 11. Precision and Bias
11.1 Precision—The precision of this test method has not
been established by an interlaboratory test program. However,
R 5 3Pa/bd2 based on test data that are available, the following may serve as
a guide to the variability of flexural strength test results.
where: 11.1.1 Tests were performed in a single lab on a silt loam
a = distance between line of fracture and the nearest
soil with 92 % passing the No. 200 sieve. Liquid limit and
support, measured along the center line of the bottom
plasticity index of soil were 26 and 7, respectively. The series
surface of the beam.
of tests consisted of 24 specimens, 12 at 6 % cement, 12 at
9.3 If the fracture occurs outside the middle third of the span
14 % cement. The specimens were cured in a moist room at
by more than 5 % of the span length, discard the results of the
23°C (73° F) for 28 days. Results4 of the tests are given in
test.
Table 1.
10. Report 11.2 Bias—There is no accepted reference value for this test
method, therefore, bias cannot be determined.
10.1 The report shall include the following:
10.1.1 Specimen identification number, 12. Keywords
10.1.2 Average width and depth at section of failure to the
12.1 flexural strength; soil-cement; soil stabilization
nearest 0.25 mm (0.01 in.),
10.1.3 Maximum load, to the nearest 40 N (10 lbf),
10.1.4 Modulus of rupture, calculated to the nearest 35 kPa 4
Felt, E. J., Abrams, M. S., Strength and Elastic Properties of Compacted
(5 psi), Soil-Cement Mixtures, ASTM STP 206, ASTM, 1957.

SUMMARY OF CHANGES

In accordance with Committee D18 policy, this section identifies the location of changes to this standard since
the last edition (95) that may impact the use of the standard.

(1) Section 1 — Inserted as 1.2 statement on units and reference to D 3740 and renumbered remaining notes as
renumbered section 1.2 to 1.3. needed.
(2) Section 2.1 — Inserted references to D 653 and D 3740. (6) Renumbered sections 6.1, 7.2, 8.1, 9.1, 10.1.2, 10.1.3,
(3) Section 2.1 — Updated title of E 4 reference. 10.1.4, and 11.1.1 and Fig. 1 — placed SI units first and places
(4) New section 3 — Inserted new section 3 – Terminology inch-pound units in parentheses.
with reference to D 653 for terms. Renumbered subsequent
(7) Added Summary of Changes section.
sections as needed.
(5) Renumbered section 4 — Inserted as Note 2 standard (8) Corrected headquarters address for ASTM

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