From pore structure assessment to service life design of concrete structures

Author(s): Zongjin Li, Hongyan Ma and Shengwen Tang
Paper category: conference
Book title: Microstructural-related Durability of Cementitious Composites
Editor(s): Guang Ye, K. van Breugel, Wei Sun and Changwen Miao
Print ISBN: 978-2-35158-129-2
e-ISBN: 978-2-35158-123-0
Publisher: RILEM Publications SARL
Publication year: 2012
Pages: 76 - 87
Total Pages: 12
Language: English

Abstract: Concrete is a porous material. The pore structure of concrete plays an important role in determining the properties of concrete such as strength and durability, and hence serviceability. How to assess the pore structure of concrete and how to relate the pore structure to the structural design have attached a large attention in concrete research.
In this paper, two new methods for pore structure assessment are discussed. One is based on a simplified status-oriented computer model, and the other is based on non-contacting impedance measurement. Both of the methods can be used to investigate pore structure and other properties of cement-based materials as functions of time.
Based on the plate form of pore structure and thermodynamics, the physical and chemical reactions of pore solution can be transferred into mechanical effects, which provides an approach to unify the loadingcarrying capacity and durability to form the service life design theory. In addition of considering the coupling effect of loading and environmental issues, the deterioration regularity of concrete (on both material and structural levels)performance with time can be considered scientifically in the design of concrete structures.
Key words: pore structure; computer model; non-contacting impedance; service life design

Online publication: 2012-07-05
Publication Type: full_text
Public price (Euros): 0.00