ACI Concrete Strength Testing Technician Practice Test

The testing equipment must maintain a distance between load-applying and support blocks constant within how many inches?

1. ± 0.01 inches

2. ± 0.05 inches

3. ± 0.10 inches

4. ± 0.15 inches

The correct answer is: ± 0.05 inches

The requirement for maintaining a distance between the load-applying and support blocks to within ± 0.05 inches is crucial for ensuring accurate and repeatable test results in concrete strength testing. This precision in alignment helps to eliminate variability in the load application, which can lead to inconsistent stress distribution across the sample being tested. By adhering to this specific tolerance, technicians ensure that the results reflect the true strength characteristics of the concrete sample, rather than artifacts introduced by improperly aligned equipment. This level of accuracy is necessary to meet industry standards and to ensure that the test results can be reliably compared with specified performance criteria and other test results. This tolerance is stricter than the other choices, which would allow for greater deviations that could compromise the quality of the test results and ultimately affect the assessment of concrete's load-bearing capabilities.