Title: A durability performance-index for concrete: developments in a novel test method

Authors: W. John McCarter; T. Malcolm Chrisp; Gerry Starrs; P.A. Muhammed Basheer; Sreejith Nanukuttan; Sudarshan Srinivasan; Bryan J. Magee

Addresses: School of the Built Environment, Institute for Infrastructure and Environment, Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh, EH14 4AS, Scotland, UK ' School of the Built Environment, Institute for Infrastructure and Environment, Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh, EH14 4AS, Scotland, UK ' School of the Built Environment, Institute for Infrastructure and Environment, Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh, EH14 4AS, Scotland, UK ' School of Planning, Architecture and Civil Engineering, Queens's University, Belfast, BT7 1NN, N. Ireland, UK ' School of Planning, Architecture and Civil Engineering, Queens's University, Belfast, BT7 1NN, N. Ireland, UK ' School of Planning, Architecture and Civil Engineering, Queens's University, Belfast, BT7 1NN, N. Ireland, UK ' School of the Built Environment, Queens's University, University of Ulster, Belfast, BT37 0QB, N. Ireland, UK

Abstract: Implementation of both design for durability and performance-based standards and specifications are limited by the lack of rapid, simple, science-based test methods for characterising the transport properties and deterioration resistance of concrete. This paper presents developments in the application of electrical property measurements as a testing methodology to evaluate the relative performance of a range of concrete mixes. The technique lends itself to in-situ monitoring thereby allowing measurements to be obtained on the as-placed concrete. Conductivity measurements are presented for concretes with and without supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) from demoulding up to 350 days. It is shown that electrical conductivity measurements display a continual decrease over the entire test period and attributed to pore structure refinement due to hydration and pozzolanic reaction. The term formation factor is introduced to rank concrete performance in terms of is resistance to chloride penetration.

Keywords: concrete testing; cover zone; performance testing; in-situ monitoring; electrical conductivity; formation factor; durability performance index; transport properties; deterioration resistance; concrete mixes; pore structure refinement; hydration; pozzolanic reaction; concrete performance; chloride penetration.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSTRUCTE.2015.067966

International Journal of Structural Engineering, 2015 Vol.6 No.1, pp.2 - 22

Received: 31 May 2013
Accepted: 16 Feb 2014
Published online: 12 Mar 2015 *

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