Title:
Effect of Moisture Content on Water Transport in Silica Fume Concrete
Author(s):
James M. Aldred, S. Swaddiwudhipong, S. L. Lee, and T. H. Wee
Publication:
Materials Journal
Volume:
97
Issue:
4
Appears on pages(s):
493-500
Keywords:
binder; curing; microcracks; silica fume.
DOI:
10.14359/7417
Date:
7/1/2000
Abstract:
Silica fume reduced water transport under all test regimes and regardless of initial moisture condition. 10% silica fume replacement in concrete with a water-binder ratio (w/b) of 0.6 was found, in general, to have water transport properties similar to ordinary portland cement (OPC) concrete with a w/b of 0.4. Unlike OPC concrete, however, the rate of wick action and moisture flow in silica fume concrete was relatively unaffected by initial moisture content. This suggests that its lower rate of desorption may limit the rate of water transport through saturated silica fume concrete. While water transport properties of silica fume concrete were generally detrimentally affected by the inclusion of a drying cycle and any resultant microcracking, any detrimental influence was similar to or less than that observed with the reference OPC concrete. Accordingly, silica fume concrete did not appear particularly sensitive to microcracking, although it was affected by limited early curing.