Influence of prior information on the assessment of concrete strength from a limited number of samples

Abstract

Annex D of the European Standard EN 1990 "Basis of structural design" allows to determine the characteristic in-situ compressive strength fck from n test results, using a prediction method which is referred to as a "Bayesian procedure with vague prior distributions". The assumption of a vague or uniform prior results in a conservative approach in cases where only a limited number of test results are available. However, in case of concrete, prior information is available in literature based on the investigation of an extensive number of test results