Estimation of the permeability of silica fume cement concrete

Abstract Deterioration and durability of concrete structures mainly depend on permeability of concrete. Silica fume (SF) as a mineral admixture for high performance concrete produces more discontinues and impermeable pore structure in concrete. The higher permeability reductions with silica fume are due to pore size refinement and matrix densification, reduction in content of Ca(OH)2 and cement paste-aggregate interfacial refinement. During the hydration process the transition interfacial zone is gradually densified due to pozzolanic reaction between silica fume and calcium hydroxide. Based on a microstructure model, a procedure for predicting the permeability of high strength silica fume cement concrete is developed by considering water-to-binder ratio, silica fume replacement ratio and degree of hydration as major influencing factors. Results of the permeability calculated using the procedure is verified with the available literature. Subsequently, effects of silica fume on the permeability of concrete are evaluated. Finally, optimum silica fume replacement ratios that reduce the permeability of concrete reasonably are proposed for durable concrete.

[1]  P. K. Mehta.  Concrete: Structure, Properties, and Materials , 1992 .

[2]  J Sousa Coutinho,et al.  The combined benefits of CPF and RHA in improving the durability of concrete structures , 2003 .

[3]  R. Newnham,et al.  Electrical Resistivity of Composites , 1990 .

[4]  Min-Hong Zhang,et al.  Water permeability and chloride penetrability of high-strength lightweight aggregate concrete , 2002 .

[5]  Ali Akbar Ramezanianpour,et al.  Effect of curing on the compressive strength, resistance to chloride-ion penetration and porosity of concretes incorporating slag, fly ash or silica fume , 1995 .

[6]  D. D. Molin,et al.  Influence of silica fume addition on concretes physical properties and on corrosion behaviour of reinforcement bars , 2004 .

[7]  Edward J. Garboczi,et al.  Percolation of phases in a three-dimensional cement paste microstructural model , 1991 .

[8]  Rachel J. Detwiler,et al.  Water permeability and microstructure of three old concretes , 1994 .

[9]  Thompson,et al.  Quantitative prediction of permeability in porous rock. , 1986, Physical review. B, Condensed matter.

[10]  A. Almusallam,et al.  Effect of silica fume on the mechanical properties of low quality coarse aggregate concrete , 2004 .

[11]  Ceb Fip.  CONDENSED SILICA FUME IN CONCRETE , 1989 .

[12]  A. Bentur,et al.  BOND EFFECTS IN HIGH-STRENGTH SILICA-FUME CONCRETES , 1989 .

[13]  Keun-Joo Byun,et al.  An estimation of the diffusivity of silica fume concrete , 2007 .

[14]  Cyril J. Lynsdale,et al.  Strength, permeability, and carbonation of high-performance concrete , 2002 .

[15]  Lu Cui,et al.  Permeability and pore structure of OPC paste , 2001 .

[16]  M. Lachemi,et al.  LONG-TERM PERFORMANCE OF SILICA FUME CONCRETES , 1998 .

[17]  Li Jianyong,et al.  Effect of slag and silica fume on mechanical properties of high strength concrete , 1997 .

[18]  Ignasi Casanova,et al.  Aggregate expansivity due to sulfide oxidation — II. Physico-chemical modeling of sulfate attack , 1997 .

[19]  R. D. Hooton,et al.  Influence of Binder Composition on Chloride Penetration Resistance of Concrete , 1997, SP-170: Fourth CANMET/ACI International Conference on Durability of Concrete.

[20]  Dale P. Bentz,et al.  Influence of silica fume on diffusivity in cement-based materials: II. Multi-scale modeling of concrete diffusivity , 2000 .

[21]  H. Jennings,et al.  Comparison of measured and calculated permeabilities for hardened cement pastes , 1996 .

[22]  R. Gül,et al.  Influence of mineral admixtures on the mechanical properties and corrosion of steel embedded in high strength concrete , 2003 .

[23]  M. I. Khan.  Isoresponses for strength, permeability and porosity of high performance mortar , 2003 .

[24]  K. Cai,et al.  AC and dc conductivity-based microstructural characterization , 2001 .