Durability

DURABILITY
It is an important property of concrete
because it indicates capability of concrete to
withstand the condition for which it has been
designed through out the life of the structure
Lack of Durability

External agents Environment

Internal agents with in the concrete
Three main physical, mechanical and chemical
Physical frost, difference between thermal
properties of aggregate and cement paste
Chemical sulfates, acids, sea water, chlorides
and electrochemical corrosion of reinforcement
Mechanical - Abrasion

Permeability
Permeability is the ease with which
liquids or gases can travel through
concrete. The property of interest in
relation to water-tightness of liquidretaining structures
Measurement - describe test- k in m/sec
or ft/sec

Permeability
BS 1881-5-1970: rate of flow water into
concrete per unit area, after a given
time, under a constant applied load and
at a given temperature. This test give
information about very thin skin of the
concrete
Permeability of concrete to air is of
interest fot sewage tanks and gas
purifiers, pressure vessels and nuclear
reactor.
Same
as
against
water
permeability only the steady state is
reached in hours

Permeability

For normal weight concrete permeability

depends on porosity of the cement paste
but it is not simple relation because poresize distribution. Like the porosity of cement
gel is 28% but permeability is
because of extremely fine texture
of the gel and very small size of gel pores
Discussion about w/c ratio, hydration and
permeability
Affect of segmenting capillaries influence
permeability therefore not a simple function
of porosity

Permeability

Permeability is related to time. For higher

durability it is important to achieve low
permeability as soon as possible. With
lower w/c ratio it is possible
For normal weight concrete to have low
permeability the w/c should be less than
0.5
Curing cycle

Moist curing
Moist and drying curing
Steam curing
Long curing temperature cycles

Permeability

Porosity of aggregate
Low permeability

Dense
Low water cement ratio
Well graded aggregate
Low porosity of aggregate

Sulfate Attack
Sulfate-generated
deteriorations
in
normal
portlant
cement
concretes
include expansion, cracking, loss of
strength and stiffness, and sometimes
disintegration.

 Gypsum is added to the cement clinker to

prevent flash point (hydration of C3A).
Gypsum forms calcium sulfoaluminate but at
that concrete is fresh thus expansion is
accommodated.
The chemical phenomenon of ettringite
formation as a result of reaction between
sulfate water and hydration products of
portland cement is complex phenomema of
the physical manifestations of the sulfate
attack. Furthermore, ettringite which causes
expansions in some cases is apparently
responsible for high strength in other cases.

Sulfate Attack
As calcium sulfoaluminate is formed in
fresh concrete similar reaction can
occur in hardened concrete. The solid
salts do not react but in case of
availability of water even the sulfates
available as by product can react. When
sulfates of sodium, magnesium, and
calcium, which are commonly present
in ground water and soil gets access in
hardened
concrete
in
desired
concentration reaction will start. Sulfur
Trioxide (SO)3 1000 ppm moderate and

Sulfate Attack

Magnesium sulfate has a more

damaging effect because it leads to
the decomposition of the hydrated
calcium silicates as well as of
Ca(OH)2 and of hydrated C3A. It then
forms magnesium silicate which has
no binding properties.
Calcium
Sulfate is less soluble but in ground
water other sulfates react
Sulfates in ground water occur
naturally or come from industrial
waste or fertilizers

Sulfate Attack

Ammonia sulfate attacks hydrated

cement paste by producing gypsum

Sulfate Attack

C3A is attacked by sulfates

Low C3A content
Sulfate resistant cement
Portland blast furnace cement
Portland pozzolan cement
Most Important
Dense concrete
Low permeability
Low water/cement ratio

Sulfate Attack
Test by bar specimen in solution of
sodium or magnesium sulfate and
measure the loss in strength, loss of
volume, disintegration

Alternate
draying
wetting
can
accelerate the process due to formation
of crystals
Efflorescence due to compaction, w/c
ratio and form work. Hot weather
followed by cool and wet weather more
efflorescence. Sea shore aggregate
more efflorescence

Sulfate Attack

Sulfate Attack