The procedure for performing a break test on a concrete cylinder primarily involves loading the cylinder until it fails while recording the load at the point of failure. This process is crucial because the data collected directly measures the compressive strength of the concrete, which is essential for evaluating its performance characteristics. When you load the cylinder, it undergoes stress until it can no longer withstand the forces applied, resulting in failure. The maximum load recorded during this test is then used to calculate the compressive strength of the concrete, expressed in pounds per square inch (psi) or megapascals (MPa). This value is critical for ensuring that the concrete meets design specifications and safety standards for construction projects.
Other procedures regarding measuring dimensions, visual inspections, and soaking cylinders may enhance the testing process or prepare the specimens under specific circumstances, but they are not the primary focus of the break test procedure itself. The key step in this testing method remains the act of loading the cylinder to determine its load-bearing capacity.