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A STUDY OF PERMEABILITY AND TORTUOSITY OF CONCRETE

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A STUDY OF PERMEABILITY AND TORTUOSITY OF CONCRETE

Shamsad Ahmad*, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Saudi Arabia
Abul Kalam Azad, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Saudi Arabia
Kevin F. Loughlin, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Saudi Arabia

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 30th Conference on OUR WORLD IN CONCRETE & STRUCTURES: 23 – 24 August 2005, Singapore

A STUDY OF PERMEABILITY AND TORTUOSITY OF CONCRETE

Shamsad Ahmad*, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Saudi Arabia
Abul Kalam Azad, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Saudi Arabia
Kevin F. Loughlin, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Permeability of concrete is commonly used as a key index for assessing the

durability of concrete, especially when concrete is to be exposed to the aggressive
environment. For a porous material like concrete, permeability depends on porosity
and pore characteristics such as pore size, orientation, connectivity, and size
variation. The effects of porosity and pore characteristics on permeability can be
captured through a single parameter called tortuosity. Thus, tortuosity can also be
viewed as an alternative index for concrete durability.

In the present study, laboratory tests were carried out to measure permeability
and tortuosity for different concrete mixes. A set-up, developed on the principle of
Darcy's equation, was used for measuring permeability. Gas diffusion tests, PHI-220
Helium Porosimetry tests and Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry (MIP) tests were
conducted for determining the tortuosity. Test results were used to study the
variations of permeability and tortuosity with the key mix parameters such as
water/cement ratio and cement content. A plot of tortuosity versus permeability
values has indicated the existence of a typical relationship between tortuosity and
permeability. Results show that higher the tortuosity, lower is the permeability.
Keywords: Concrete, porous material, permeability, tortuosity

1. Introduction
Since cement paste envelopes the aggregate particles in hardened concrete, it is the permeability
of the paste that has the greatest influence on the permeability of concrete [1]. Permeability of the
hydrated cement paste is closely related to the capillary porosity, which depends mainly on the
solid/space ratio of paste. At a given degree of hydration, porosity increases with decrease in the
solid/space ratio of paste. Therefore, the solid/space ratio, which is inversely proportional to the
water/cement ratio, determines the permeability. The permeability steeply increases with decrease in
the solid/space ratio below a critical value of 0.7 [2]. For the same degree of hydration, introducing
sand particles into the cement paste, results in higher permeability [3]. However, it is widely reported
that there is no defined relationship between porosity and permeability. Large variations in
permeability of concrete having nominally similar porosities are frequently observed [4, 5, 6, and 7].

Permeability of concrete is not so much a function of the porosity as it is a function of the size,
distribution and the continuity of capillary pores. High quality concrete at an early age has a total void
volume of about 20 to 25% and about 10 to 25% at a mature age [8, 9]. Mehta and Manmohan [5]
observed that the permeability of hardened cement paste is negligible (irrespective of its porosity)
unless a network of micropores wider than a specific diameter of about 100 nm exists in the system.
The volume of pores in most natural aggregates is usually under 3% and rarely exceeds 10% [2], while
the capillary pores in a typical cement paste range from 20 to 40%.

Many researchers have attempted to develop the applicable relationship between permeability and
pore pressure since Powers et al. [10] first reported the relations between permeability and porosity.
Nayme and Illston [4] reported an influence of maximum continuous pore radius on permeability.
Hughes [6] reported the influence of average pore radius on permeability by using the Poiseuille
formula. Mehta and Monteiro [2] took pore size distribution into account and proposed an empirical
formula to express the relationship between permeability and pore structure. A model relating
permeability of cement paste with its pore structure, determined by MIP, has been reported by Cui and
Cahyadi [11]. Kumar and Bhattacharjee [12] have drawn the following conclusions from their research
work on assessment of permeation quality of concrete through MIP [Kumar and Bhattacharjee, 2004]:
(i) the permeation quality of concrete can be assessed on the basis of the knowledge of porosity and
pore system characteristics of concrete such as equivalent pore radius and mean distribution pore
radius of the concrete obtained through MIP results; (ii) the relationship involving mean distribution
pore radius of the pores yields a better correlation than that involving equivalent pore radius; (iii) MIP
can be used as an additional method for assessing the permeation quality of concrete.

As a fluid flows essentially through the interconnected pore path in a porous material such as
concrete, the flow path is tortuous in nature. It is assumed that all effects arising from pore orientation,
connectivity, size variation, etc. can be lumped together as a single “tortuosity factor”. This is
obviously a gross assumption since it depends on the implicit assumption that the effects of pore
geometry and structure are the same for all pore sizes. Since the tortuosity factor is a structural
parameter, it should not depend on the sorbate or the experimental conditions [13]. Dullien [14] has
also shown that if the pore structure is characterized in sufficient detail, a reasonably accurate
prediction of the tortuosity factor can be made. However, this requires a detailed knowledge of the
pore shape as well as pore size distribution. In practice, it is generally simpler to treat the tortuosity as
an empirical constant [13].

Tortuosity is usually defined as the square of the ratio of the average flow path length Le to the
length L, along the major flow axis of the porous medium. Since in general Le > L,  = (Le/L)2 > 1.
However, Bear [15] defined tortuosity as (L/Le)2< 1. This is only a matter of definition Bear [15].
Values of tortuosity greater than 3, which are not uncommon [16, 17], are generally ascribed to the
effect of variation in pore diameter which have been shown to cause a reduction in flux [18, 19, 20].
Bhatia [21, 22] has suggested that higher tortuosity may be attributed to a correlation effect which
occurs even in a random lattice of uniform pores.

In a recent study, an attempt has been made to use gas diffusion technique in measuring diffusion
coefficient for concrete through the measurement of tortuosity [23]. Tortuosity,, porosity, ε, and
diffusion coefficient, D, of a porous material (like mortar or concrete), are related to the pure gas
diffusion coefficient, D0, as follows:  = (D0/D) ε [24, 25]. Therefore, tortuosity can be determined
through the measurements of diffusivity and porosity.

In view of the fact that both permeability and tortuosity depend upon the pore structure and its
interconnectivity, it is apparent that a relationship between these two material properties should exist
for a porous medium [15]. This postulation has led to numerous attempts to correlate porosity and
tortuosity to permeability.

In the present work a total of nine mixes having different water/cement ratio and cement content
were considered. Permeability and tortuosity for all the mixes were determined to study the effect of
key mix parameters on permeability and tortuosity and also to observe the relationship between
permeability and tortuosity.
2. Experimental Investigation

2.1 Concrete Mixes

A total of 9 concrete mixes corresponding to 3 water/cement ratios (0.4, 0.5, and 0.6) and
3 cement contents (300, 350, and 400 kg/m3) at a constant CA/FA ratio 0f 1.6, as detailed in
Table 1, were studied.

Table 1: Details of the concrete mixes

CA/FA w/c Cement Mix proportions

Mix (by wt.)
ratio ratio content
No.
(by wt.) (by wt.) (kg/m3) Cement : FA : CA
1 1.6 0.4 300 1 : 2.67 : 4.27
2 1.6 0.4 350 1 : 2.21 : 3.53
3 1.6 0.4 400 1 : 1.87 : 2.98
4 1.6 0.5 300 1 : 2.63 : 4.21
5 1.6 0.5 350 1 : 2.17 : 3.47
6 1.6 0.5 400 1 : 1.83 : 2.92
7 1.6 0.6 300 1 : 2.59 : 4.14
8 1.6 0.6 350 1 : 2.13 : 3.41
9 1.6 0.6 400 1 : 1.79 : 2.86

ASTM C 150 Type I Portland cement was used in this study. The coarse aggregates for
this study, was crushed limestone. The average values of specific gravity and absorption of
such coarse aggregates, determined in accordance with ASTM C 127, are in the
neighborhood of 2.5 and 1.5, respectively. The particle size distribution of coarse aggregate
(by weight) was as follows: 15%, 70%, and 15% retained on sieve sizes 3/8 in., 3/16 in., and
3/32 inch, respectively. Medium coarse sand was used as fine aggregate. The specific
gravity and absorption of the fine aggregates are typically found to be 2.6 and 0.57,
respectively. For mixing the constituents, potable water was used. Moist curing was carried
out for a period of 7 days followed by air-curing at room temperature.

2.2 Permeability Measurement

A test setup was developed to measure permeability according to the test scheme
recently proposed by Li and Chau [26]. The test set-up essentially consists of a water-tight cell
that houses another cell containing the hollow concrete specimen. The specimen is water-
tightly sealed at top and bottom using rubber gaskets. It is then subjected to a constant water
pressure and the steady-state flow of water through the thickness of the hollow specimen is
measured for calculation of permeability using the Darcy's formula.

2.3 Tortuosity Measurement

The tortuosity () of the each concrete specimen was calculated from the experimental
data obtained from gas diffusion test and the pore properties of concrete (i.e. porosity, ε, and
mean pore radius, rm). The calculation for tortuosity is based on the procedure as suggested
by Navez [27].

Gas diffusion tests were carried out on the concrete specimens using the test set-up
developed by Sharif et al. [23]. The set-up consists of a single pallet cell, gas flow lines, a
detector, and a recorder. The concrete specimen used for the gas diffusion test was a circular
disc of 2 inch diameter and 3/8 inch thickness.

The porosity tests were conducted on 1 inch diameter core drilled out from the concrete
specimens using a Vertical Automatic Drill Press. Normal water was used as a drilling fluid.
 Then the core edges were trimmed using a Diamond Saw Blades Cutter. The finished cores
were dried at 100C in a vacuum oven for 3 hours. The length, diameter and dry weight of
each sample were measured. The grain volume of each sample was determined using PHI-
220 Helium Porosimeter. Sample porosity (ε) was determined by dividing pore volume of the
sample by its bulk volume.

Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry (MIP) tests were conducted using Autoscan-33 Porosimeter
to determine the mean pore radius (rm). The Autoscan-33 Porosimeter is designed to measure
pore volume to a minimum radius of 0.0032 micrometers (32 Angstrom). This equipment
consists of a sample cell assembly, filling apparatus, and a high pressure cell assembly. A
cored and trimmed-to-size (around 10 mm diameter) sample of approximately two grams is
assembled in the sample cell for low-pressure measurements. This sample cell is inserted in
the vacuum jar of the filling apparatus and evacuated to at least 50 micron of mercury
pressure. Then the test is performed applying pressure of up to 24 psi (0.165 MPa) to the
sample cell and the volume of mercury intruded is measured simultaneously. The sample is
then transferred to the high pressure cavity assembly where a gradually increasing capillary
pressure is applied in the range of 0 to 33,000 psi (228 MPa) while measuring the volume of
mercury that intruded in the sample. Withdrawal by reducing pressure to atmospheric
pressure (14.7 psi (0.10 MPa)) and a re-injection by raising pressure again to 33,000 psi (228
MPa) are applied. High resolution pressure versus mercury saturation volume data are
recorded for interpretation with the help of a computer linked to the system. Data from the
low-pressure and high pressure assemblies are combined and processed for plotting the
capillary pressure curves and interpreting the pore-throat-size distributions. Using the pore-
throat-size distribution data, the histogram of the pore-size distribution is plotted. The
representative pore radius of a sample is determined from a log normal distribution function of
the cumulative pore size frequency in percentage. The mean radius corresponds to 50%
cumulative frequency.

2. Results and Discussion

All the test results obtained for the 9 concrete mixes are presented in Table 2.

Table 2: Test results

CA/FA w/c Permeability Mean

Cement Porosity Tortuosit
Mix ratio ratio coefficient, K Pore
content  y
No. (by (by radius ,
(kg/m3) (m/s  1012) (%) 
wt.) wt.) rm(Å)
1 1.6 0.4 300 4.8 9.58 829 200
2 1.6 0.4 350 4.5 11.08 821 245
3 1.6 0.4 400 4.1 11.27 728 275
4 1.6 0.5 300 7.5 10.22 652 116
5 1.6 0.5 350 5.6 10.30 600 99
6 1.6 0.5 400 5.2 7.84 889 119
7 1.6 0.6 300 47.2 11.14 614 38
8 1.6 0.6 350 44.6 10.49 907 61
9 1.6 0.6 400 40.1 14.32 800 78

Plots of water/cement ratio versus permeability coefficient, K, for different cement contents have
been shown in Figure 1. It is clearly observed from Figure 1 that permeability coefficient increases in
value with increase in w/c ratio. A relatively much sharper rise in permeability is noted when w/c ratio
approaches 0.6. Results also show that cement content has some influence on permeability. Higher
cement content at constant w/c reduces permeability to some extent. From the plots of Figure 1, it
would appear that K-values are relatively insensitive to mix designs used in this study with w/c ratio
from 0.4–0.5.

Plots of water/cement ratio versus tortuosity,, for different cement contents have been shown in
Figure 2. The values of tortuosity, plotted in Figure 2, show that tortuosity decreases with higher w/c
ratio in all cases of cement content. As the w/c ratio increases from 0.4 to 0.6, a sharp decrease is
noted for mixes with different cement contents.

Cement content = 300 kg/cu.m Cement content = 350 kg/cu.m Cement content = 400 kg/cu.m

50
45
Permeability (x 1E-12 m/s)

40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7
water/cement ratio

Figure 1: Variation of permeability with mix parameters.

Cement content = 300 kg/cu.m Cement content = 350 kg/cu.m Cement content = 400 kg/cu.m

300

250

200
Tortuosity

150

100

50

0
0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7
water/cement ratio

Figure 2: Variation of tortuosity with mix parameters.

 The experimentally determined values of permeability coefficient K and tortuosity  for all 9 mixes
are shown in Figure 3 to observe the relationship between the two properties. As seen from Figure 3,
permeability has an inverse nonlinear relationship with  for  less than 125. For  greater than 150,
permeability is marginally affected by tortuosity.

60

50
Permeability (x E-12 m/s)

40

30

20

10

0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300
Tortuosity

Figure 3: Variation of permeability with tortuosity.

3. Conclusions

Based on the observations made through this study, the following conclusions may be drawn:

1. Water/cement ratio has a significant impact on permeability and tortuosity. Permeability

increases with increase in water/cement ratio, conforming to the general perception, whereas
tortuosity decreases with increasing water/cement ratio. Permeability increase more rapidly
with water/cement ratio approaching or exceeding 0.6

2. Higher cement content at a constant w/c ratio appears to reduce permeability and increase
tortuosity to some extent.

3. The study shows that permeability is inversely related to tortuosity for  values less than 150
or so. For  exceeding 150, K-values are marginally affected by . Thus, for a low-permeable
concrete,  values are expected to be higher than 150.

Acknowledgement

The authors acknowledge the support provided by King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals,
Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, under the ARI research grant (Project No. ARI-016).

References

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