Influence of drying-induced microcracking and related size effects on mass transport properties of concrete
Author(s)
Wu, Z
Wong, HS
Buenfeld, NR
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Microcracking has been suspected of influencing the transport properties and durability of concrete structures, but the nature and extent of this influence is unclear. This paper focuses on the influence of drying-induced microcracking. Samples were prepared with sample thickness/maximum aggregate size (t/MSA) ratios ranging from 2 to 20 and dried to equilibrium at 105 °C or 50 °C/7% RH or 21 °C (stepwise: 93% RH → 55% RH) prior to characterisation of microcracks and transport tests. Results show for the first time that there is a significant size effect on microcracks and transport properties. Samples with smaller t/MSA had more severe microcracking and higher gas permeability. Gas permeability decreased with increasing t/MSA (for a decreasing MSA), and remained constant beyond t/MSA of 10. However, this size effect was not seen on gas diffusivity and sorptivity. The implications of these findings particularly regarding the influence of drying-induced microcracks on the durability of concrete structures are discussed.
Date Issued
2015-02-01
Date Acceptance
2014-10-29
ISSN
0008-8846
Publisher
Elsevier
Start Page
35
End Page
48
Journal / Book Title
Cement and Concrete Research
Volume
68
Issue
1
Copyright Statement
© 2014, Elsevier. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Identifier
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0008884614002154
Subjects
Science & Technology
Technology
Construction & Building Technology
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Materials Science
Drying shrinkage
Microcracks
Transport properties
Size effect
Interfacial transition zone (ITZ)
INTERFACIAL TRANSITION ZONE
CEMENT-BASED MATERIALS
SCANNING-ELECTRON-MICROSCOPY
CHLORIDE PERMEABILITY
WATER PERMEABILITY
GAS-PERMEABILITY
COARSE AGGREGATE
SHRINKAGE
CRACKING
DIFFUSIVITY
Science & Technology
Technology
Construction & Building Technology
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Materials Science
Drying shrinkage
Microcracks
Transport properties
Size effect
Interfacial transition zone (ITZ)
INTERFACIAL TRANSITION ZONE
CEMENT-BASED MATERIALS
CHLORIDE PERMEABILITY
WATER PERMEABILITY
COARSE AGGREGATE
SHRINKAGE
CRACKING
DIFFUSIVITY
MICROSTRUCTURE
MORTAR
Building & Construction
0904 Chemical Engineering
0905 Civil Engineering
1202 Building
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2014-11-15