Title:
Study on Permeability of Cracked Concrete
Author(s):
Antonio Princigallo
Publication:
Materials Journal
Volume:
117
Issue:
6
Appears on pages(s):
151-164
Keywords:
cracks; durability; mechanical properties; permeability; self-healing
DOI:
10.14359/51725997
Date:
11/1/2020
Abstract:
The present study concerns a testing methodology to investigate the permeability of cracked concrete based on oxygen permeability testing. The methodology was applied to study self-healing; thus, concrete specimens were preliminarily subjected to mechanical compression and successively exposed to water. The aim was to assess any change in the conditions of the oxygen flow respect to the corresponding plain specimens. Different concrete types were used—that is, ordinary concrete and high-performance concrete. It was found that both the oxygen permeability as well as the type of oxygen flow were affected by the presence of cracks even partially filled in with hydration products. In particular, the intrinsic permeability was determined. In addition, it was possible to assess the relative proportions of viscous and inertial flows. On those bases, the critical velocity was identified as a parameter to permit a consistent comparison between different specimens under similar flow types.