The relative permeability of concrete using nitrogen gas

A modified version of a test, originally proposed by BRE (UK), was used to assess relative permeability to nitrogen gas of concretes cured in various ways. Three simple parameters from test plots clearly showed the effects of duration of water curing, followed by drying to constant mass at 50°C; test specimen moisture content was dominant and drying at 105°C reduced differences between concretes of very different quality. Convincing evidence was not found of differences between upper and lower ‘halves’ of cylinders nor between cast and cored ones.