Numerical Strategy to Simulate Seawater Ingress in RC Concrete Blocks Exposed to Wetting-Drying Cycles in Field Conditions During 19 years

Numerical results are compared to experimental data on concretes exposed in field conditions for 19 years and subjected to wetting/drying cycles in seawater after a couple of curing days. They were obtained thanks to a hydration model assuming fully hydrated concretes (19 years of curing time) and a reactive transport model in saturated conditions taking into account precipitation/dissolution of minerals and their kinetics and adsorption of ionic species on C-S-H. Numerical results show surprisingly rather good results, especially for concretes with fly ash. For OPC, although model considers average bulk porosity modifications, the experimental apparent diffusion coefficient increases much more. For concretes with silica fume, numerical results also show underestimations of total chloride content also experimental apparent diffusion coefficients are constant. Analysis of hydration calculations show that concretes are not fully hydrated after 19 years. Additional chloride content from reactions between anhydrous phases and chloride ingress may appear

Wick action in mature mortars with binary cements containing slag or silica fume – The relation between chloride and moisture transport properties under non-saturated conditions

Moisture and ionic transport under non-saturated condition is an important, but poorly understood transport phenomena particularly for mature systems containing supplementary cementitious materials. This paper investigates the moisture and chloride profiles of 3-year old mortars containing Portland cement (OPC), slag and silica fume (SF) after long-term (30–48 months) wick action exposure in 1.09 M NaCl solution. Moisture profiles were measured with 1H NMR relaxometry and chloride profiles with microXRF. The measured profiles were discussed in relation to moisture dependent material properties such as chloride diffusion coefficients, moisture diffusion coefficients, and desorption isotherms. Results show that the combination of different cementitious materials, e.g. the cementitious binder, is the key factor affecting chloride penetration depth. The cementitious binder also strongly affects chloride diffusion coefficient, moisture diffusion coefficient and chloride binding properties, which are all important parameters for the prediction of chloride ingress

Estudio del contenido de humedad en un material en base cemento midiendo su impedancia y su gamma-densitometría

The local water content in cementitious material depends on the equilibrium between its atmospheric environment and its bulk properties. So, the moisture profile in material can vary with time. The object of this study is to follow the change of this profile by measuring the electrical impedance of the material with pairs of small wires embedded at different depths. This method was applied to young cement paste specimens. The results obtained show that this method is quite satisfactory. The best frequency to be applied, is about 50 or 100 Hz. These results were compared with those obtained with gamma-densitometry.El agua contenida en los materiales en base cemento depende del equilibrio entre la atmósfera que le rodea y las propiedades de la matriz sólida. Por lo tanto el perfil de humedad en los materiales puede variar con el tiempo. La finalidad de este estudio es seguir los cambios en dicho perfil, a través de la medición de la impedancia eléctrica del material con varios pares de pequeños conductores situados a diferentes profundidadades. Este sistema se aplicó a diversas muestras de pasta de cemento Jóvenes. Los resultados obtenidos nos hacen ver que el método es satisfactorio, debiendo aplicarse a una frecuencia de 50 a 100 Hz. Dichos resultados se compararon con los obtenidos a través de la gammadensitometría

Shrinkage of self-compacting concrete. A comparative analysis

Self-compacting concrete (SCC) is a concrete type that does not require vibration for placing and compacting. SCC possesses special technical features and properties that recommend its application in many jobs. Nevertheless, in some situations, it has been observed an inadequate behaviour of the material at early ages due to shrinkage. The existing shrinkage prediction models were developed for standard concrete. In this paper three SCC mixtures, with different compressive strength, are studied in terms of autogenous and total shrinkage. The results are compared with the Eurocode 2 model. For the studied mixtures it was found that this model underestimates the autogenous shrinkage, while the total shrinkage is generally overestimated.Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal [UID/MULTI/00308/2013]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Investigation of moisture condition and Autoclam sensitivity on air permeability measurements for both normal concrete and high performance concrete

While on site measurement of air permeability provides a useful approach for assessing the likely long term durability of concrete structures, no existing test method is capable of effectively determining the relative permeability of high performance concrete (HPC). Lack of instrument sensitivity and the influence of concrete moisture are proposed as two key reasons for this phenomenon. With limited systematic research carried out in this area to date, the aim if this study was to investigate the influence of instrument sensitivity and moisture condition on air permeability measurements for both normal concrete and HPC. To achieve a range of moisture conditions, samples were dried initially for between one and 5 weeks and then sealed in polythene sheeting and stored in an oven at 50 °C to internally distribute moisture evenly. Moisture distribution was determined throughout using relative humidity probe and electrical resistance measurements. Concrete air permeability was subsequently measured using standardised air permeability (Autoclam) and water penetration (BS EN: 12390-8) tests to assess differences between the HPCs tested in this study. It was found that for both normal and high performance concrete, the influence of moisture on Autoclam air permeability results could be eliminated by pre-drying (50 ± 1 °C, RH 35%) specimens for 3 weeks. While drying for 5 weeks alone was found not to result in uniform internal moisture distributions, this state was achieved by exposing specimens to a further 3 weeks of sealed pre-conditioning at 50 ± 1 °C. While the Autoclam test was not able to accurately identify relative HPC quality due to low sensitivity at associated performance levels, an effective preconditioning procedure to obtain reliable air permeability of HPC concretes was identified

Characterization of fracture patterns and hygric properties for moisture flow modelling in cracked concrete

International audienceSeveral years after their installation, building materials such as concrete present signs of ageing in the form of fractures covering a wide range of sizes, from microscopic to macroscopic cracks. All sizes of fractures can have a strong influence on heat and moisture flow in the building envelope, but their distribution is difficult to predict due to the variety of environmental factors which cause them. This paper aims at applying experimental non-destructive techniques for the observation of fracture patterns and of fluid flow in fractures, in order to provide this data to models for fluid transfer in fractured porous media. Digital image correlation was performed during the fracturing of concrete samples, in which moisture uptake was then monitored using X-ray radiography. Finite-element simulations were then performed based on the measurements of the fracture patterns, in order to recreate the measured moisture concentration profiles. Digital image correlation was found suitable as a mean to obtain a complete mapping of the deformations at the surface of the samples, and a first step was made towards the use of non-destructive fracture characterization for the purpose of moisture transfer modelling