Water permeability of cementitious materials - outstanding issues on measurement and modelling approaches: Water permeability of cementitious materials: outstanding issues on measurement and modelling approaches

Research outputpeer-review

Abstract

Permeability is a fundamental material property for characterizing concrete durability as it determines the penetration of aggressive substances responsible for degradation under a pressure gradient. However, measuring permeability of cementitious materials is not a trivial task as is discussed in this work by an extended review of both direct and indirect permeability measurement methods. The main challenges are to cope with the continuous change in microstructure as a result of hydration of early age cementitious materials; to ensure the completely saturated state of samples; and to increase the accuracy of extremely slow flow measurement. These challenges result in a very scattered permeability measured by different techniques, and in many cases the difference can be up to two orders of magnitude. Similarly, while recent advances of computer power has allowed for computing permeability from digitized images or virtual microstructures generated from microstructure and cement hydration models, the question remains on whether the resolution of images is appropriate or whether the virtual microstructures are representative. The validation of permeability predictions from microstructures is still an issue.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 2nd International RILEM/COST Conference
Subtitle of host publicationEarly Age Cracking and Serviceability in Cement-based Materials and Structures
PublisherRILEM Publications
Pages521-526
Volume120
StatePublished - 12 Sep 2017
Event2nd International RILEM/COST Conference on Early Age Cracking and Serviceability in Cement-based Materials and Structures - Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management, Université LIbre de Bruxelles ULB, Brussels
Duration: 12 Sep 201714 Sep 2017
http://www.eac2.be/

Conference

Conference2nd International RILEM/COST Conference on Early Age Cracking and Serviceability in Cement-based Materials and Structures
Abbreviated titleEAC02
Country/TerritoryBelgium
CityBrussels
Period2017-09-122017-09-14
Internet address

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