Measuring Thickness of Concrete Measuring Thickness of Concrete Elements Using Drilled Concrete Cores When doing construction one of the major concerns is that the work being done complies with the design specifications. In this ASTM test, C 174M-97, the thickness of a concrete pavement, slab, or structural element is determined by measuring the length of a core drilled from a concrete structure. This allows the contractor, as well as the owner, to see that the concrete is being poured to meet the requirements. (ASTM, C 174M-97, 1) In order to complete this experiment a particular tool will be needed. It is a 3-point calipering device that will measure the l