Eight-year exploration of shrinkage in high-performance concrete

In this paper, an experimental and analytical exploration on the effect of water-binder ratio (w/b), silica fume and age on autogenous, carbonation, drying and total shrinkage of high-performance concrete (HPC) is outlined. Eight types of HPC were studied. Carbonation, internal relative humidity (RH) and strength were studied on specimens from the same batch of HPC that was used in the studies of shrinkage. The results indicate fairly good correlation between carbonation, shrinkage, w/b and RH. The type and amount of silica fume affected shrinkage.     

Redefining cement characteristics for sulfate-resistant Portland cement

Experimental research was performed to relate specific cement characteristics to expansion due to sulfate attack. Twenty-one North American cement of statistically diverse chemical composition were used in the study. ASTM 1012 “Standard Test Method for Length Change of Hydraulic Cement Mortars Exposed to a Sulfate Solution” was performed using mortars prepared with each of the cement. First-order and multivariate relationships between cement characteristics and sulfate expansion were correlated at different ages. Analysis revealed that while tricalcium aluminate (C₃A) has typically been targeted as the chief contributor to sulfate attack, iron oxide (Fe₂O₃) or tetracalcium aluminoferrite (C₄AF) content, combined with total equivalent alkalis, showed a much stronger negative correlation with expansions at all ages. These results are in agreement with a broad spectrum of sulfate expansion theories and can provide a better means of specifying sulfate-resistant cement.     

Stress and strain state of concrete during freezing and thawing cycles

The objective of this work is to calculate the pressures, stresses, and strains induced into moist concrete during freezing and thawing. The applied theory is based on thermodynamics and the linear theory of elasticity. If no additional salts are dissolved in the pore water the inputs needed in the theory are relative humidity and temperature measured in the sample chamber and inside concrete and evaporable water amount in the pore structure. Theoretical results were compared with the test results made with two concretes cured under water or at 96% relative humidity. One of the concretes was air entrained and in the comparison concrete no air-entraining agents were used. In the test cylinders cured under water the largest tensional stresses in freezing occurred on the surface of the test cylinders both in the axial and tangential direction. The largest tensional stress was 2.2 MPa, both in air-entrained and in non air-entrained concretes. The largest tensional stresses in the warming phase took place at the end of the thawing period when the chamber temperature was around +5 °C. Then the maximum tension occurred in the middle of the concrete cylinder in the axial direction of the cylinder. This maximum tensional stress was over 2.5 MPa in the air-entrained concrete cured in the relative humidity of 96%. The thermodynamic pumping effect at the end of the thawing phase in every cycle can increase the pore water amount remarkably if free water or moisture is available on the surface of the structure or in the environment vapor. The thermodynamic pumping effect seems to be remarkably greater and more dangerous in air-entrained concretes.     

Modelling of a gas flow measurement: Application to nuclear containment vessels

The objective of this work is to simulate the gas flow across a concrete wall of a nuclear power plant internal enclosure. In the laboratory, permeability measurements are generally made on cylindrical samples (15 cm diameter×5 cm height: ∅ 15×5 cm) with a steady-state experiment. To be able to predict structural behaviour, we studied size effect and steady-state time with a modified CEMBUREAU permeability test. A statistical approach showed that there is no size effect on concrete permeability. Laboratory results found on cylindrical samples can be applied to tests in situ, where concrete specimens are thicker. A model based on the mass balance relation provided times to reach steady state and reproduced experimental flow kinetics for uniform water content across specimens.     

Normalized age applied to AAR occurring in concretes with or without mineral admixtures

This paper presents a method for assessing the normalized age factors, which allow accelerated alkali-aggregate reaction (AAR) tests performed at various temperatures (20, 40 and 60 °C) to be related to the conditions encountered in situ in concrete structures. The evaluation of normalized age factors is based on the comparison of many experimental results taken from the literature concerning laboratory tests and in situ measurements. The use of these factors permits us to evaluate, from the results of an accelerated test performed at 60 °C, the protection time against AAR that could be expected for in situ concretes containing mineral admixtures (silica fume and fly ashes). The results show that, in addition to the inhibitory action of mineral admixtures leading to a strong decrease in the final AAR-swelling, the protection against abnormal expansion caused by AAR increases significantly when mineral admixtures are used. Abnormal expansion is expected at 2-4 years for plain concrete compared to 7-50 years for concrete with mineral admixtures.     

Performance of recycled aggregate concrete monitored by durability indexes

The report of an investigation into the performance of concrete manufactured with recycled aggregate (RA) using durability indexes as indicators is presented in this paper. Durability indexes, such as chloride conductivity, oxygen permeability and water sorptivity, of three different concrete mixes containing 0%, 50% and 100% RA were monitored at ages 3, 7, 28 and 56 days. The results show that durability quality reduced with increase in the quantities of RA included in a mix; however, as expected, the quality improved with the age of curing. At the age of 56 days, increases in index value of a concrete mix made with 100% RA over that made with 100% natural aggregate were 86.5% and 28.8%, respectively, for chloride conductivity and water sorptivity. The corresponding value of oxygen permeability index (OPI) for the same concrete mixes was a reduction of 10.0%. For 50% RA concrete, the reductions in chloride conductivity and water sorptivity indexes at the curing age of 56 days compared to 3 days were 62.7% and 42.7%, respectively. The corresponding figure for OPI was an increase of 37.6%. The poor performance of the RA concrete is associated with the cracks and fissures, which were formed in RA during processing, thereby rendering the aggregate susceptible to permeation, diffusion and absorption of fluids.     

Film model for coated cement concrete

The performance of a polymer concrete coated cement concrete under sulfuric acid environment was studied for 3 years. Both dry and wet concrete specimens were used in this study. The mass transfer coefficient ratio of cement concrete to polymer concrete was over 12. Coated cement concrete cylinders with pinholes were used to study the chemical resistance of the coated concrete under sulfuric acid environments to represent the worst sewer condition. Effects of pinhole sizes on the performance of coated concrete were studied, and changes in weight of the coated concrete specimens were measured regularly. The weight change in coated cement concrete was modeled using a film model and the effect of the pinhole sizes on the performance of the coated concrete was quantified.     

用环氧厚浆涂料防混凝土碳化

介绍了针对早期建筑的混凝土桥梁碳化情况采用H52-S4环氧厚浆涂料进行封闭保护、防腐处理的施工方法及施工工艺，并提出施工中应注意的有关事项，对温度影响、表面气泡处理进行了讨论，提出合理化建议。     

Specimen preparation and image processing and analysis techniques for automated quantification of concrete microcracks and voids

Specimen preparation and image processing/analysis techniques were developed for use in automated quantitative microstructural investigation of concrete, focusing on concrete microcracks and voids. Different specimen preparation techniques were developed for use in fluorescent and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of concrete; then techniques produce a sharp contrast between microcracks/voids and the body of concrete. The image processing/analysis techniques developed specifically for use with concrete address the following usages: automatic threshold; development of intersecting microcracks/voids and connected voids; distinction of microcracks form voids based on geometric attributes; and noise filtration.     

A multiscale model for effective moduli of concrete incorporating ITZ water-cement ratio gradients, aggregate size distributions, and entrapped voids

This paper develops a model for the effective elastic properties of concrete, which is a function of the volume fractions, size distributions, and elastic properties of fine aggregate (FA) and coarse aggregate (FA) and entrapped voids. Furthermore, the model is a function of the overall water-cement ratio and specific gravity of cement. Explicitly modeled are the water-cement ratio gradients through the interfacial transition zone (ITZ), which, in turn, affect the variation of the cement paste elastic properties through the ITZ, while maintaining the total fractions of cement and water consistent with the overall water-cement ratio. The ITZ volume is also conserved.