Permeability and Sorption Properties of Mature Near-Surface Concrete
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 10, Issue 1
Abstract
Measurements of the permeation or sorption characteristics of concrete are increasingly being used as indexes of durability or resistance to chemical attack of new concrete. This investigation was intended to find if these relatively simple, inexpensive tests can be used to assess the condition of the concrete in mature structures that may have deteriorated during their service life. Such structures may be nearing the end of their design life, but it may be necessary to extend their service life. In such cases the state of the concrete needs to be assessed. The paper explores the profiles of oxygen permeability and water sorption, with distance from the surface, of concrete taken from in-service structures typically in the 20 to 30 year age range and hence proposes generalized permeability and sorption profiles. However, as the two types of measurement, permeability and sorption, do not, for concrete from in-service structures, correlate one with the other or with carbonation depth or strength, it is unlikely that either parameter is a valid index of the overall state of concrete from a mature structure.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
1.
Ballim, Y. (1991). “A low cost, falling head permeameter for measuring concrete gas permeability.”Concrete Beton, Midrand, South Africa, (November), 13–18.
2.
Ballim, Y.(1993). “Curing and the durability of OPC, fly ash and blast-furnace slag concretes.”Mat. and Struct., Paris, France, 26(26), 238–244.
3.
Blight, G. E. (1977). “A falling head air permeameter for testing asphalt.”The Civ. Engr. in South Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa (June), 123–126.
4.
Blight, G. E.(1991). “A study of four waterproofing systems for concrete.”Mag. of Concrete Res., London, U.K., 43(050), 197–203.
5.
Blight, G. E., and Lampacher, B. J.(1995). “Applying covercrete absorption test to in-situ tests on structures.”J. Mat. in Civ. Engrg., ASCE, 7(1), 1–8.
6.
Chantree, P. A. (1981). “Appendix 5: A measurement of rates of water absorption of concretes.”Sulphate Resistance of Buried Concrete; Second Interim Report on Long-Term Investigation at Northwick Park, London; BRE Rep., W. H. Harrison and D. C. Teychenne, eds., Her Majesty's Stationery Office (HMSO), London, U.K., 58–61.
7.
Dhir, R. K., Chan, Y. N., and Hewlett, P. C.(1986). “Near surface characteristics of concrete: an initial appraisal.”Mag. of Concrete Res., London, England, 38(134), 54–56.
8.
Dhir, R. K., Chan, Y. N., and Hewlett, P. C.(1988). “Near-surface characteristics of concrete: assessment and development of in situ test methods.”Mag. of Concrete Res., London, England, 40(145), 234–243.
9.
Hong, C. Z., and Parrot, L. J. (1989). “Air permeability of cover concrete and the effect of curing.”C&CA Services Tech. Rep., Cement and Concrete Association, Slough, U.K.
10.
Kelham, S.(1988). “A water absorption test for concrete.”Mag. of Concrete Res., London, U.K., 40(143), 106–110.
11.
Levitt, M. (1970). “Non-destructive testing of concrete by the initial surface absorption method.”Proc., Symp. on Non-Destructive Testing of Concrete and Timber, Inst. of Civ. Engrs., London, U.K., 23–28.
12.
Pihlajavaara, S. E., and Parroll, H.(1975). “On the correlation between permeability properties and strength of concrete.”Cement and Concrete Res., 5(4), 321–327.
13.
Richards, P. W. (1982). “A laboratory investigation of the water permeability and crushing strength of concrete made with and without pulverized-fuel ash, as affected by early curing temperature.”Advanced Concrete Technol. Proj. 82/9. Cement and Concrete Association, Slough, U.K.
14.
Schonlin, K., and Hilsdorf, H. (1988). “Permeability as a measure of potential durability of concrete—Development of a suitable test apparatus.”Permeability of Concrete, Am. Concrete Inst. Special Rep. SP 108, Am. Concrete Inst., Detroit, Mich., 99–115.
15.
Verbeck, G. J. (1958). “Carbonation of hydrated portland cement.”Res. Dept. Bulletin 87, Portland Cement Assn., Chicago, Ill.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
Copyright © 1998 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Published online: Feb 1, 1998
Published in print: Feb 1998
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.