Estimating Volume Fraction of Free Water in Hardening Concrete by Interpretation of Dielectric Constant
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 24, Issue 2
Abstract
During the hydration of Portland cement concrete, free water reacts with the compounds of unhydrated cement to form the hydrated phases that make up concrete. The chemical reaction results in a reduction in the amount of free water and consequently produces hydration products. Thus, the estimate of free water content and other components in hardening concrete is very helpful in understanding the behavior of early age concrete and the ultimate quality of concrete that can be achieved. Although many properties of concrete are related to the volume fractions of its components, dielectric properties are a beneficial parameter for identifying characteristic components of hardening concrete over time. They can also serve as a useful and continuous nondestructive measurement technique applicable during the hydration process. This paper defines a volumetric relationship of fresh concrete and describes an approach to estimate the volume fraction of the different phases or components that make up hardening concrete. Additionally, the use of the approach was validated by comparing the results with the laboratory test data.
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Information
Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 24 • Issue 2 • February 2012
Pages: 159 - 167
Copyright
© 2012 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Aug 25, 2010
Accepted: Jul 28, 2011
Published online: Jul 30, 2011
Published in print: Feb 1, 2012
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