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Gas permeability coefficient of cover concrete as a performance control

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Abstract

A simple and practical gas permeability measurement method, known as the overpressure method, was used to assess the quality of cover concrete. This method enables distinguishing the quality of cover concrete both qualitatively and quantitatively, under laboratory conditions and/orin situ. The gas permeability values obtained are sensitive to changes in curing duration, water/cement ratio, age of testing and moisture history of the concrete. It has been confirmed from the test results that compressive strength alone cannot be a good indicator of concrete durability. It has also been observed that sorptivity and gas permeability values are linearly proportional to each other.

Résumé

Une méthode simple et pratique pour mesurer la perméabilité au gaz, appelée la méthode de surpression, a été utilisée pour déterminer la qualité de l'épaisseur d'enrobage du béton. La méthode permet une détermination qualitative et quantitative, en laboratoire et/ouin situ. Les valuers de la perméabilité au gaz obtenues sont sensibles aux variations de la durée de cure, du rapport eau/ciment, de l'âge de l'essai et de l'historique de l'humidité du béton. Les résultats des essais confirment que la résistance à la compression seule ne peut être un bon indicateur de la durabilité du béton. Il a également été constaté que les valeurs d'absorption et de perméabilité au gaz présentent une corrélation linéaire.

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Editorial note Prof. Dr.-Ing. H.-W. Reinhardt is a RILEM Senior Member and works at FMPA Baden-Württemberg, a RILEM Titular Member. He is Chaiman of TC 146-TCF on Tightness of Concrete with respect to Fluids and is active in TC 148-SSC on Test methods for the Strain Softening response of Concrete. He is a corresponding member of TCs 107-CSP (Creep and Shrinkage Prediction models), 126-IPT (In-Place Testing of hardened concrete), 160-MLN (Methodology for Life prediction of concrete structures in Nuclear power plants) and 162-TDF (Test and Design methods for steel Fibre reinforced concrete). He is also a member of the Editorial Group of 090-FMA (Fracture Mechanics of concrete-Applicatons). Prof. Dr.-Ing. Reinhardt is a member of the Board of Editors ofMaterials and Structures and the RILEM National Delegate for Germany. Dr.-Ing. Abebe Dinku is now working at Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, and is a Senior Member of RILEM.

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Dinku, A., Reinhardt, H.W. Gas permeability coefficient of cover concrete as a performance control. Mat. Struct. 30, 387–393 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02498560

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