# Portland Cement Compressive Strength

The most common strength test, compressive strength, is carried out on a 50 mm (2-inch) cement mortar test specimen. The test specimen is subjected to a compressive load (usually from a hydraulic machine) until failure.

- Canonical URL: https://pavementinteractive.org/reference-desk/testing/cement-tests/portland-cement-compressive-strength/
- Last updated: 2018-09-05
- Review: reviewed by licensed professional engineers on the previous Pavement Interactive site, where reviewers were not recorded by name
- Standards: AASHTO T 106, ASTM C109, ASTM C349

The most common strength test, compressive strength, is carried out on a 50 mm (2-inch) [cement mortar](https://pavementinteractive.org/glossary/cement-mortar/) test specimen. The test specimen is subjected to a compressive load (usually from a hydraulic machine) until failure. This loading sequence must take no less than 20 seconds and no more than 80 seconds. Table 2 shows ASTM C 150 compressive strength specifications.

**Table 1.** ASTM C 150 Portland Cement Mortar Compressive Strength Specifications in MPa (psi)

| Curing Time | Portland Cement Type |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  | I | IA | II | IIA | III | IIIA | IV | V |
| 1 day | - | - | - | - | 12.4 (1800) | 10.0 (1450) | - | - |
| 3 days | 12.4 (1800) | 10.0 (1450) | 10.3 (1500) | 8.3 (1200) | 24.1 (3500) | 19.3 (2800) | - | 8.3 (1200) |
| 7 days | 19.3 (2800) | 15.5 (2250) | 17.2 (2500) | 13.8 (2000) | - | - | 6.9 (1000) | 15.2 (2200) |
| 28 days | - | - | - | - | - | - | 17.2 (2500) | 20.7 (3000) |
| Note: Type II and IIA requirements can be lowered if either an optional heat of hydration or chemical limit on the sum of C3S and C3A is specified |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

## Standard Test Methods

- AASHTO T 106 and ASTM C 109: Compressive Strength of [Hydraulic Cement](https://pavementinteractive.org/glossary/hydraulic-cement/) Mortars (Using 50-mm or 2-in. Cube Specimens)
- ASTM C 349: Compressive Strength of Hydraulic Cement Mortars (Using Portions of Prisms Broken in Flexure)

Calculator: Concrete cylinder strength — https://pavementinteractive.org/tools/cylinder-strength/