The role of porosity in external sulphate attack

Design codes promote a limitation of permeability (indirectly of porosity) to reduce the sulphate ingress and improve the resistance of concrete and mortar to external sulphate attack (ESA). However, porosity could also have a positive effect on durability by generating additional space to accommoda...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Ikumi Montserrat, Tai|||0000-0001-9547-5241, Pialarissi Cavalaro, Sergio Henrique|||0000-0002-9368-0898, Segura Pérez, Ignacio|||0000-0001-6519-9899
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2019
País:España
Institución:Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
Repositorio:UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/127464
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2117/127464
https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2018.12.016
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Concrete--Deterioration
Sulphate attack (C) Ettringite (D) X-ray diffraction (B) Mercury porosimetry (B) Pore structure
Formigó -- Deterioració
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Enginyeria civil::Materials i estructures::Materials i estructures de formigó
Descripción
Sumario:Design codes promote a limitation of permeability (indirectly of porosity) to reduce the sulphate ingress and improve the resistance of concrete and mortar to external sulphate attack (ESA). However, porosity could also have a positive effect on durability by generating additional space to accommodate the expansive phases. The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of porosity in ESA. For that, changes at the macro-scale, phase composition and pore network are monitored for mortar compositions with different pore-size distribution. Results indicate the existence of two mechanisms: the capacity to accommodate expansive phases controls the durability during the initial stages of the attack, while at later stages durability is defined by the permeability. Results from specimens with air-entrainer suggest that the intentional increase of porosity towards maximising the capacity to accommodate expansive products might be a valid approach in order to reduce the expansive forces generated during ESA.