Moisture content in concrete does have a significant effect on the mechanical
properties of concrete.
2. Moisture content in the concrete will decrease the compressive strength and
pressure tensile strength, but have a much lesser effect on the splitting tensile
strength.
3. Oven drying increases the compressive strength and splitting tensile strength, but
decreases the pressure tensile strength sharply.
4. Oven drying generates significant damage to the concrete’s microstructure and
changes the fracture mode exhibited by the pressure tension test.
5. For concretes that are oven dried or that exhibit heavily damaged microstructures,
the pressure tension testing appears to be more sensitive to the extent of damage.