Designation: C 1040 – 05

Standard Test Methods for

In-Place Density of Unhardened and Hardened Concrete,
Including Roller Compacted Concrete, By Nuclear Methods1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C 1040; 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 useful for the same purpose on hardened concrete. The

1.1 These test methods cover the determination of the fundamental assumptions inherent in the test methods are that
in-place density of unhardened and hardened concrete, includ- Compton scattering is the dominant interaction and that the
ing roller compacted concrete, by gamma radiation. For notes material under test is homogeneous.
on the nuclear test see Appendix X1. 3.2 These test methods are suitable for control and for
1.2 Two test methods are described, as follows: assisting in acceptance testing during construction, for evalu-
Section
ation of concrete quality subsequent to construction, and for
research and development.
Test Method A—Direct Transmission 7
Test Method B—Backscatter 8 NOTE 1—Care must be taken when using these test methods in
monitoring the degree of consolidation, which is the ratio of the actual
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded density achieved to the maximum density attainable with a particular
as the standard. The SI equivalents of inch-pound units may be concrete. The test methods presented here are used to determine the actual
approximate. density. A density measurement, by any test method, is a function of the
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the components of the concrete and may vary, to some extent, in response to
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the the normal, acceptable variability of those components.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- 3.3 Test results may be affected by reinforcing steel, by the
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- chemical composition of concrete constituents, and by sample
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. heterogeneity. The variations resulting from these influences
are minimized by instrument design and by the user’s compli-
2. Referenced Documents ance with appropriate sections of the test procedure. Results of
2.1 ASTM Standards: 2 tests by the backscatter test method may also be affected by the
C 29/C 29M Test Method for Bulk Density (“Unit Weight”) density of underlying material. The backscatter test method
and Voids in Aggregate exhibits spatial bias in that the apparatus’s sensitivity to the
C 138/C 138M Test Method for Density (Unit Weight), material under it decreases with distance from the surface of
Yield, and Air Content (Gravimetric) of Concrete the concrete.
C 670 Practice for Preparing Precision and Bias Statements
for Test Methods for Construction Materials 4. Apparatus
4.1 The exact details of construction of the apparatus may
3. Significance and Use vary, but the apparatus as a whole shall satisfy the requirements
3.1 These test methods are useful as rapid, nondestructive for system precision stated in Annex A1. The system shall
techniques for the in-place determination of the density of consist of the following:
unhardened concrete. The backscatter test method is also 4.1.1 Gamma Source—An encapsulated and sealed radio-
isotopic source, such as cesium-137 (see X1.2).
1
4.1.2 Detector—Any type of gamma detector, such as a
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C09 on
Concrete and Concrete Aggregates and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
Geiger-Müller tube, scintillation crystal, or proportional
C09.45 on Roller-Compacted Concrete. counter.
Current edition approved July 1, 2005. Published August 2005. Originally 4.1.3 Probe—For direct transmission measurements, either
approved in 1985. Last previous edition approved in 2000 as C 1040 – 00. the gamma source or the detector shall be housed in a probe for
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
inserting in a preformed hole in the material to be tested. The
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on probe shall be marked in increments of 2 in. (50 mm) for tests
the ASTM website.

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

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 C 1040 – 05
with probe depths from 2 to 12 in. (50 to 300 mm). The probe differs significantly from that for which the calibration curve
shall be so made mechanically, that when moved manually to was established. An adjustment is also necessary if the testing
the marked depth desired, it will be held securely in position at equipment has been changed. Adjustment is particularly im-
that depth. portant for backscatter test method measurements. Determine
4.1.4 Readout Instrument—A suitable scaler or direct read- the necessary adjustments using the same mode of operation
out meter. and at the same depth (if using direct transmission) as that
4.1.5 Gage Housing—The source, detector, readout instru- intended for testing. A recommended procedure for making this
ment and appropriate power supplies shall be in housings of adjustment is as follows:
rugged construction that are moisture and dust proof. 5.2.1 Prepare a concrete mix similar in composition to the
4.1.6 Reference Standard—A block of uniform, unchanging material to be tested subsequently.
density provided for checking equipment operation, back- 5.2.2 Fill the calibration adjustment container with concrete
ground count, and count-rate reproducibility. and consolidate to produce a uniform, homogeneous material
4.1.7 Guide Plate and Hole-Forming-Device—For direct with approximately the density that will be achieved in the
transmission measurements, a guide plate and a device, such as construction.
a pin or drill rod, having a nominal diameter slightly larger than
the probe, for forming a hole normal to the concrete surface are NOTE 4—Consolidation may be achieved by the procedure used for unit
required. weight testing (Test Method C 138/C 138M) or by other methods, such as
spading the concrete and then dropping the ends of the container
4.1.8 Calibration Adjustment Container— The container alternately on a rigid surface.
shall be rigid and watertight, with minimum inside dimensions
large enough to allow the calibration curve adjustment proce- 5.2.3 Strike off the container with strike-off plate or bar.
dure (5.2) to be followed with no effect of the finite size of the Take care to make the concrete surface flat and flush with the
container on the instrument’s responses. The volume of the container edges.
container shall be established following the procedure outlined
NOTE 5—A 1⁄16 in. (1.6 mm) average difference between the concrete
in Test Method C 29/C 29M. surface and the container edges in a 6 in. (150 mm) deep container will
NOTE 2—For backscatter measurements, a container 18 by 18 by 6 in. produce a 1.0 % error in the weighed density of the concrete.
(450 by 450 by 150 mm) will meet this requirement for most equipment 5.2.4 Weigh the concrete in the container to the nearest 0.5
currently available commercially. For 2-in. (50-mm) depth direct trans-
mission measurements, a container 24 by 24 by 4 in. (600 by 600 by 100
lb (250 g) and determine the weighed density as follows:
mm) will meet this requirement. Wc
W5 V (1)
4.1.9 Scale—The scale shall be accurate to within 0.5 lb
(0.2 kg) of the test load at any point within the range of use.
The range of use shall be considered to extend from the weight where:
of the calibration adjustment container empty, to the weight of W = weighed density of concrete, lb/ft3 (kg/m3),
the measure plus the contents at 160 lb/ft3 (2600 kg/m3). Wc = weight of the concrete, lb (kg), and
4.1.10 Strike-Off Plate or Bar—This shall be a flat metal or V = volume of the container, ft3 (m3).
glass plate or metal bar with a length at least 2 in. (50 mm) 5.2.5 Immediately take three automatically timed direct
greater than the length, width, or diameter of the calibration transmission or backscatter readings with the instrument cen-
adjustment container. The strike-off must be rigid, straight, and tered on the surface of the concrete in the container. Rotate the
smooth enough to finish the concrete surface flat and flush with base of the instrument 90° around the vertical axis, with
the edges of the calibration adjustment container. subsequent rotations of 180 and 270° from the original
position. Obtain three additional automatically timed counts at
5. Calibration each position. The instrument must be centered over the
5.1 Calibration curves are established by determining the surface of the concrete in each rotated position to prevent edge
nuclear count rate of each of several materials at different and effects on the instrument reading.
known densities, plotting the count rate (or count ratio) versus 5.2.6 Using the applicable calibration curve, determine the
each known density, and placing a curve through the resulting density from the average of the 12 counts obtained in 5.2.5.
points. The method used to establish the curve must be the 5.2.7 Determine the difference between the two density
same as that used to determine the density. The materials used readings obtained in 5.2.4 and 5.2.6.
for calibration must be of uniform density. 5.2.8 Repeat 5.2.2-5.2.7 on two additional concrete mixes
NOTE 3—Calibration curves are supplied by gage manufacturers, or can of the same proportions. Determine the adjustment factor by
be established using blocks of known density or prepared containers of averaging the three values obtained in 5.2.7 and 5.2.8. If one of
uniform, unchanging material compacted to known densities. Materials the three values differs from the average by more than 1.5 lb/ft3
considered satisfactory for use in blocks include granite, aluminum, chalk, (24 kg/m3), discard it as a statistical outlier and recalculate the
limestone, and magnesium. adjustment factor as the average of the remaining two values.
5.2 Adjusting Calibration Curves—Prior to use, adjust the 5.2.9 Use the adjustment factor determined in 5.2.8 to plot
instrument’s calibration curve, if necessary, to compensate for a corrected count-rate calibration curve which shall be parallel
chemical composition effects. Such an adjustment is necessary to the original calibration curve and offset by the amount
whenever the chemical composition of the concrete to be tested indicated in 5.2.8. Alternatively, the value of the adjustment

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 C 1040 – 05
factor shall be attached to the instrument and applied to all 7.1.3 The test location shall contain concrete to a depth 1 in.
density determinations arrived at from an original (unadjusted) (25 mm) greater than that to which the probe will be inserted.
calibration curve. In thin concrete overlay projects, this may require the removal
of the underlying (original) concrete 1 to 2 in. (25 to 50 mm)
NOTE 6—In some circumstances, for example, where chemical compo-
sition changes are minimal, calibration curve adjustments may be estab- down over a small area before placement of the overlay.
lished on permanent, uniform, hardened concrete blocks. 7.2 Smooth the surface with a wood float. If necessary, use
the guide plate and hole-forming device (4.1.7) to make a hole
6. Standardization slightly larger than the probe and perpendicular to the surface.
6.1 Standardization of the equipment on the reference stan- In some concretes, the probe may be inserted directly into the
dard is required at the start of each day and whenever test concrete without the use of the guide plate and hole-forming
measurements are suspect. device.
7.3 Insert the probe so that the side of the probe facing the
NOTE 7—In some older instrument models, count rates are strongly
influenced by the ambient temperature; frequent standardization may be
center of the gage is in intimate contact with the side of the
necessary. hole. Keep all other radioactive sources at such a distance from
the gage that the readings will not be affected.
6.2 Warm-up time shall be in accordance with the manufac-
turer’s recommendations. NOTE 8—Thirty feet (10 m) is the recommended minimum distance
6.3 Take at least five readings on the reference standard, from other nuclear density gages.
more if recommended by the manufacturer, or take one 4 min 7.4 Use the same warm-up time as in standardization. Take
or longer count if the instrument is equipped with automatic automatically timed readings, for a minimum of 1 min, and
standard count storage. determine the in-place density from the adjusted calibration
6.4 If more than one of the individual readings is outside the curve. Alternatively, determine the in-place density from the
limit set by Eq 2, repeat the standardization. If the second unadjusted calibration curve and then apply the calibration
attempt does not satisfy Eq 2, check the system for a malfunc- adjustment factor (5.2.9). If the instrument has a direct reading
tion. If no malfunction is found, establish a new No(average display which is not programmed to apply the calibration
count) by taking the average of a minimum of 10 counts on the adjustment factor (5.2.8), correct the displayed density by
reference standard. applying that factor.
|Ns 2 No| , 1.96 =No (2)
TEST METHOD B—BACKSCATTER (FOR
where: UNHARDENED OR HARDENED CONCRETE)
Ns = count currently measured in checking the instrument
operation, and 8. Procedure
No = average count previously established on the reference 8.1 Select a test location such that, when the gage is placed
standard. in test position:
In instruments where the count has been prescaled, that is, 8.1.1 Any point on the source-detector axis shall be at least
divided by a constant factor k before it is displayed, Eq 2 shall 9 in. (230 mm) from any pavement edge or object, and
be replaced by the following: 8.1.2 No reinforcing steel with less than 3 in. (75 mm) of
concrete cover shall lie directly under the source - detector
|Ns 2 No| , 1.96 =No /k (3)
axis, except as indicated in Note 9.
6.4.1 If automatic standard count storage is used and the
NOTE 9—The user may find that certain instrument models and oper-
newly established count is outside the limit set by Eq 2, repeat
ating modes allow gages to operate over steel with as little as 11⁄2 in. (38
the standardization. mm) of concrete cover.
6.4.2 If the second attempt does not satisfy Eq 2, check the
system for a malfunction. 8.2 Prepare the test site in the following manner:
6.4.3 If no malfunction is found, establish a new No equal to 8.2.1 On unhardened concrete, smooth the surface with a
the average count found in 6.4.2. wood float.
6.5 If a new N o differs by more than 10 % from the standard 8.2.2 For best results on hardened concrete, find as smooth
count at which the calibration curve (5.1) was established, a surface as possible. Remove all loose material. The maxi-
recalibrate the instrument. mum void beneath the gage shall not exceed 1⁄8 in. (3 mm). Use
fine sand to fill these voids and smooth the surface with a rigid
TEST METHOD A—DIRECT TRANSMISSION (FOR plate or other suitable tool.
UNHARDENED CONCRETE) 8.3 Seat the gage firmly. Keep all other radioactive sources
at such a distance from the gage that the readings will not be
7. Procedure affected (Note 8).
7.1 Select a test location such that, when the gage is placed 8.4 Use the same warm-up time as in standardization. Take
in test position: automatically timed readings, for a minimum of 1 min, and
7.1.1 Any point on the source-detector axis shall be at least determine the in-place density from the adjusted calibration
9 in. (230 mm) from any pavement edge or object. curve (5.2.9). Alternatively, determine the in-place density
7.1.2 Reinforcing steel shall not be present in the volume from the unadjusted calibration curve and then apply the
bounded by the extended probe and the detector tubes. calibration adjustment factor. If the instrument has a direct

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 C 1040 – 05
reading display which is not programmed to apply the calibra- combination determined the density at each location three
tion adjustment factor (5.2.8), correct the displayed density by times. The instrument was removed and re-inserted before each
applying that factor. new determination. The study resulted in 60 sets of three
determinations. All instruments were of the same manufacture.
NOTE 10—On lifts less than 3 in. (75 mm) thick, readings may be
erroneous if the density of the underlying material differs significantly A report of results and calculations is on file at ASTM.3
from that of the concrete being placed. Correction procedures are 10.1.2 Single-Operator, Single-Instrument Precision—The
available for some gage models. single-instrument and single-operator standard deviation was
found to be 0.5 lb/ft3(8.0 kg/m3).4 Therefore, results of two
9. Report properly conducted tests by the same operator are not expected
9.1 Report the following information: to differ by more than 1.4 lb/ft3(22.4 kg/m3).4
9.1.1 Test method (direct transmission or backscatter), 10.1.3 Multi-Operator, Multi-Instrument Precision—The
9.1.2 Nature of concrete (hardened or unhardened), multi-operator and multi-instrument standard deviation was
9.1.3 Depth of probe, if using direct transmission, found to be 1.0 lb/ft3(16.0 kg/m3).4 Therefore, results of two
9.1.4 Thickness of layer tested, properly conducted tests by the same operator are not expected
9.1.5 Identification of raw materials, to differ by more than 2.8 lb/ft3(44.9 kg/m3).4
9.1.6 Mixture proportions, 10.2 Bias—No statement on bias is being made because no
9.1.7 Count rate for standardization, and standard reference concrete of known density is available.
9.1.8 Count rate for each test reading and the converted
mean density value, or the corrected direct reading density 11. Keywords
value, in lb/ft 3 (kg/m3). 11.1 acceptance testing; backscatter measurement; concrete-
10. Precision and Bias density; density; direct transmission measurement; gamma
radiation; in-place density; nuclear testing; roller-compacted
10.1 Precision:
concrete
10.1.1 Round Robin Test Program—A round robin program
was executed involving five instruments and five operators. All
tests were done on a single placement of RCC. Twelve sites 3
Supporting data have been filed at ASTM International Headquarters and may
were prepared for measurements, relying on the natural varia- be obtained by requesting Research Report RR: C09-1031.
tion in the as-placed material among the sites to generate 4
These numbers represent, respectively, the (1s) and (d2s) limits as described in
twelve different material properties. Each instrument-operator Practice C 670.

ANNEX

(Mandatory Information)

A1. DETERMINING PRECISION OF APPARATUS

A1.1 Instrument Count Precision: S = slope, cpm/lb/ft3 (cpm/kg/m3).

A1.1.1 Instrument count precision is defined as the change A1.1.2 The slope of the calibration curve is determined at
in density that corresponds to a one standard deviation change the 140 lb/ft3 (2240 kg/m3) point and the standard deviation is
in the count due to the random decay of the radioactive source. calculated from ten individual automatically-timed readings
Instrument count precision is determined from the slope of the taken on 140 6 5 lb/ft3 (2240 6 80 kg/m3) material. The gage
calibration curve and the statistical standard deviation of the is not moved after seating for the first count. For a direct
count rate, as follows: reading gage, the instrument count precision, P, in lb/ft3(kg/
P 5 s/S (A1.1) m3), is the standard deviation of ten individual automatically-
timed density readings.
A1.1.3 The value of P shall be determined at least once
where: every three months. The value of P shall be less than 1.0
P = instrument count precision, lb/ft3(kg/m3), lb/ft3(16 kg/m3) for backscatter and less than 0.5 lb/ft3(8
s = standard deviation, cpm (counts/minute), and kg/m3) for direct transmission measurements.

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 C 1040 – 05
APPENDIX

(Nonmandatory Information)

X1. NOTES ON THE NUCLEAR TEST

X1.1 It should be noted that the volume of concrete procedures are beyond the scope of these test methods, the
represented in the measurements is indeterminate and will vary originating committee emphasized its support of these objec-
with (1) the source-detector geometry of the equipment used, tives. In order to meet regulatory agency requirements, gage
and (2) with the characteristics of the material tested. In owners must establish effective operator instruction and use
general, and with all other conditions constant, the denser the procedures, together with routine safety procedures, such as
material, the smaller the volume involved in a backscatter source leak tests, recording and evaluation of film badge data,
measurement. The density so determined is not necessarily the the use of survey meters, etc., in connection with the operation
average density within the volume involved in the measure- of this type of equipment. Likewise, individual users of the
ment. Typically, backscatter gage readings are influenced by 3 equipment must complete a formal training program and must
to 5 in. (75 to 125 mm) of material; the top 1 in. (25 mm) of be familiar with possible safety hazards. Users should be
the material determines 50 to 70 % of the measured count rate, particularly concerned about developing safe procedures for
and the top 2 in. (50 mm) determines 80 to 95 %. Where these removing mortar while cleaning the source rod after direct
materials are of uniform density, this characteristic of this test transmission measurements.
method is of no effect. However, reinforcing steel and under-
lying concrete are both often within the volume in which they
X1.3 The determination of density in these test methods by
may influence gage readings. Also, the extent of the influence
the nuclear means is indirect. The relationship between nuclear
of vertical density variations, such as those caused by reinforc-
gage count rate and density necessarily is determined by
ing steel, depends on the depth at which the steel is located.
correlation tests on materials at known average densities.
X1.2 The use of cesium-137 and other radiosotope sources Calibration curves established in this manner do not necessar-
in density gages is regulated and licensed by the U.S. Nuclear ily hold for all concretes because of differences in chemical
Regulatory Commission or, in agreement states, by state composition. This effect is particularly significant for backscat-
regulatory agencies. The primary objective of these regulations ter method measurements. Because of these considerations,
is the use of these materials in a manner safe to the operator, to provisions are included in these test methods for adjusting
other workers, and to the general public. While detailed safety calibration curves on a project-by-project basis.

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