The Influence of water saturation on the static and dynamic compressive strength of concrete. The influence of water saturation on the static and dynamic compressive strength of concrete was investigated. Two different specimen geometries with defined degrees of water saturation were tested. The principle of the split Hopkinson bar was used for the dynamic compressive strength tests. It was found out that the compressive strength of concrete decreases with increasing degree of saturation, both in the static and the dynamic load cases. The amount of the reduction with increasing water saturation is the same under static and dynamic loading. Thus it can be stated that the influence of the water saturation is independent of the strain and loading rate. The dry specimens failed more explosively with an increased number of cracks and fragments, compared to the water-saturated ones.