Crack propagation in cement mortar exposed to external sulfate attack

Abstract EN

This study displays experimental investigation to find out the effect of the external sulfate attack on crack propagation in cement mortar cubes exposed to two sulfate solutions.

For this purpose, five mixes of mortar are designed to cast 90 cubes (18 cubes of each mix) and two sulfate solutions (magnesium sulfate MgSO4 and sodium sulfate Na2SO4), each of 34000 p.p.m SO4-2 concentration are prepared.

The cubes are evenly distributed in each of the solutions and in tap water as well.

The testing technique is carried out compressive strength and Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity (UPV) tests simultaneously to specify the stress/strength ratio at which cracks propagate.

The tests are carried out after 56 and 150 days of exposing to sulfate solutions.

The results show that crack propagation takes place in specimens exposed to sulfate solutions at stress/strength ratios higher than those which are kept in tap water.

The main conclusion, according to this study results, is