Title: Influence of Capillary Porosity on the Transport Properties of Self Compacting Concrete

Author(s): K. Audenaert, V. Boel, and G. De Schutter

Publication: Symposium Paper

Volume: 235

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 1-12

Keywords: capillary absorption; capillary pores; carbonation; chloride penetration; gas permeability; water permeability

DOI: 10.14359/15844

Date: 3/22/2006

Abstract:
Self compacting concrete (SCC) is a new kind of concrete that combines a high flowability and a high segregation resistance obtained by a large amount of fine particles or the presence of a viscosity modifying agent and the use of superplasticizers. As self compacting concrete does not need external compaction, the pore structure, and more specifically the amount of capillary pores, is not influenced by the compaction method. These capillary pores play a very important role in the transport of water and gases in concrete and are of major importance for the understanding of degradation mechanisms. In order to verify the correlation between the transport properties and the capillary pores, tests were carried out. Water and gas permeability, capillary absorption, carbonation and chloride penetration tests were performed on 11 self compacting concrete mixtures and 1 traditional concrete mixture. The selection of the mixtures is made in order to consider some important parameters like the cement/powder and water/cement ratio, the amount of water, the amount of powder and the type of filler(limestone filler with two different grading curves). The amount of capillary pores was calculated by the method of Powers. The calculated values were compared with the test results and gave very good correlations.