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Water flow into unsaturated concrete
L.B.B. Peer
Abstract:
Physical and diffusion theories, used to describe fluid flow into dry and
partially saturated porous media, are applied to concrete in its unsaturated
state. The results of an experimental programme in which pore pressures and
moisture contents were measured in concrete specimens subjected to a variety
of one- and three-dimensional infiltration conditions are presented. The
data is analysed critically in light of the theories. A finite element model
of the diffusion process is used in an attempt to verify estimates of the
magnitude of the sorption force near the wetting front, and to explore the
effect of material heterogeneities on the inflow. The heterogeneity of concrete
pore structure near a cast surface may be evaluated by observing trends in
the infiltration data. The implications for microstructural quality testing
are discussed.
Keywords: Unsaturated concrete, Diffusitivity, Sorptivity, Electrical resistivity,
Pore pressure.
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