MULTI-SCALE MODELING AND NON DESTRUCTIVE TESTING: ASSESSING WATER CONTENT OF CONCRETE

Author(s): Vincent Guihard (1,2), Jean-Luc Adia (3), Julien Sanahuja (3)
Paper category: Proceedings
Book title: SynerCrete’18 International Conference on Interdisciplinary Approaches for Cement-based Materials and Structural Concrete
Editor(s): Miguel Azenha, Dirk Schlicke, Farid Benboudjema, Agnieszka Jędrzejewska
ISBN: 978-2-35158-202-2
e-ISBN: 978-2-35158-203-9
Publisher: RILEM Publications SARL
Publication year: 2018
Pages: 749-754
Total Pages: 6
Language : English

Abstract: Concrete delayed behavior (shrinkage, creep, etc...) prediction can be significantly improved by monitoring the amount and spatial distribution of water within a concrete structure over time. Electromagnetic properties, such as dielectric permittivity, of heterogeneous and porous materials are closely linked to water content. Measurement of these properties is thus a common non destructive technique to assess the moisture content. A calibration curve is then required to relate the measured permittivity to the saturation degree. This curve can be classically determined experimentally, or from empirical models. However, the first approach is tedious and time consuming, and the second one is not taylored to the specific concrete at stake. This contribution thus proposes an alternative route, relying on an explicit description of liquid and gas phases in the pore domain, and on upscaling techniques. This approach is presented and validated on unsaturated sand for the sake of simplicity. Then, an application to cement pastes is described.

Online publication : 2018
Publication type : full_text
Public price (Euros) : 0.00