Effect of extended environmental exposure on the durability of high-strength silica fume concrete

Abstract EN

Durability of high strength silica fume concrete under different extended environmental exposure conditions is assessed through the measurement of the concrete compressive strength at different concrete ages and its water permeability.

The progress of the compressive strength up to 875 days was monitored for three batches kept under three environmental conditions ; namely, standard laboratory conditions, down town typically air polluted environment, and coastal exposure conditions of the Mediterranean with high chloride-sulfate content.

The strength progression for the batch kept at lab conditions showed an increase in compressive strength followed by an almost steady state while the two batches kept under down town and coastal conditions showed an increase followed by a decrease in strength.

Permeability was measured for the three batches at the age of 480 days.

The batch kept at the lab conditions possessed the least permeability while the one exposed to coastal environment possessed the highest and was two and half times that of the batch kept under lab conditions.