WATER SORPTIVITY - PRINCIPLES AND APPLICABILITY WHEN SPECIFYING FOR DURABILITY

Water sorptivity is a practical concept used to assess concrete quality. Tests based on this concept such as the determination of the depth of water penetration after a fixed period and the rate of water penetration, have been devised and used in specifications for durability related purposes. This paper presents a review on the relevance of the water sorptivity concept in assessing concrete quality for durability. Theoretically, it can be shown that parameters obtained from a water sorptivity test are related to porosity, capillary pores and intrinsic permeability of concrete. These are the most important factors affecting concrete durability, particularly regarding physical resistance to the ingress of harmful elements from the external environment. A procedure linking the required 24 hour depth of water penetration to concrete cover for durable concrete in marine environment is proposed in this paper. The effects of chloride ion movement, the interactions between binder and environment and their consequences on the pore structure of concrete are considered in this procedure. (a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see IRRD abstract no. 895164.