*2.3. Test Methods*

#### 2.3.1. Compressive Test

To test the compressive strength of concrete, mortar cubes were prepared. After curing, the cubes were taken out of their curing containers, and the surfaces were mopped dry. A cube was placed at the center of the loading area of the compressive strength test machine. The loading rate was 0.6 MPa/s.

Loading stopped automatically when cubes were broken, and the compressive strength and force could be directly recorded.

The compressive strength by knowing the maximum applied force was calculated as follows:

$$R\_{\rm c} = F\_{\rm c} / 10000 \,\tag{1}$$

where Rc is the compressive strength in MPa; Fc is the maximum load at the time of fraction in N; and 10,000 is the area of the face of the cube (100 mm × 100 mm).

#### 2.3.2. Flexural Test

For flexural strength test, symmetrical three-point loading was used. In experiments, the 40 mm × 40 mm × 160 mm prisms were tested using three-point loading test. Prisms were placed in the loading area for processing the three-point bending test. Prisms were subjected to the load at a rate of 50 ± 10 N/s. The loading device was turned off when failure occurred.

The flexural strength by knowing the maximum applied force was calculated as follows:

$$\mathbf{R\_{f}} = (\mathbf{1.5} \times \mathbf{l} \times \mathbf{F\_{f}}) \mathbf{b^{3}} \tag{2}$$

where Rf is the flexural strength in MPa; b is the side of the square section of the prism in mm; Ff is the peak load applied to center of the prism at fracture in N; and l is the distance between supports in mm. For the three-point loading test device, l equals 100 mm and b equals 40 mm. During loading, the force applied was recorded. By using the maximum force recorded, the flexural strength can be calculated through Equation (2).
