Relationship between cracking and electrical resistance in reinforced and unreinforced concrete

Author(s): J. Pacheco, B. Savija, E. Schlangen, R. Polder
Paper category: Conference
Book title: 2nd International conference on Microstructural-related Durability of Cementitious Composites
Editor(s): Guang Ye, K. Van Breugel, Wei Sun, Changwen Miao
Print ISBN: 978-2-35158-129-2
e-ISBN: 978-2-35158-123-0
Publisher: RILEM Publications SARL
Pages: 458-466
Total Pages: 8
Language: English

Abstract: 
Electrical resistivity of concrete is a material dependent property that has been used to assess transport properties. Ions contained in the pore solution are responsible of carrying electrical current through concrete’s pore network. Pore size and connectivity have an influence on the transport properties of concrete. When concrete is subjected to environmental and/or mechanical action, cracking of concrete cover is a serious threat for its durability. Cracks represent fast routes for chloride ingress that lead to corrosion of reinforcement. In concrete, cracks can be considered as spatial discontinuities between aggregates and concrete hardened matrix. For concrete infrastructure, cracks are important for assessing the remaining service life. Tensile cracks in bending have a tapered geometry, i.e. the widest crack occurs at concrete’s surface with a decreasing opening as crack propagates towards the reinforcement. This type of crack is critical for assessing the condition of a concrete structure. In this paper, real-time measurements of concrete resistance during cracking of reinforced concrete specimens were performed under laboratory conditions. A Modified Wedge Splitting Test (MWST) was used in order to create controlled cracks in the specimens. Results show that the load-displacement curves can be linked to the relationship between displacement and resistance of concrete.

Online publication: 2013
Publication Type: full_text
Public price (Euros): 0.00