FIELD AND LABORATORY STUDY OF MODULUS OF RUPTURE AND PERMEABILITY OF STRUCTURAL CONCRETE IN FLORIDA. FINAL REPORT. ABRIDGED VERSION

An extensive laboratory study was conducted to evaluate the effects of various mix parameters and curing conditions on these two properties of structural concretes used in Florida, and the relationship of other concrete strength properties, to these two properties. An efficient laboratory test set-up for performing forty permeability tests simultaneously was developed and used in this study. In addition, concrete samples obtained from six concrete projects in Florida were tested to evaluate the differences between the in-service concrete and the laboratory-cured concrete. The scope of the laboratory study covered three aggregate types (a Florida porous limestone, a river gravel, and an Alabama dense limestone), three cement types (Types I, II and III), three water/cement-ratios (0.45, 0.38 and 0.33), three maximum aggregate sizes (3/8, 3/4 and 1 inch), two pozzolans (fly ash and silica fume) and six curing conditions (steam curing, air curing, curing compound and three moist curing conditions). The results of the study indicated that water/cement-ratio and curing condition are the major factors affecting the properties of concrete. The replacement of cement by 20% Class F fly ash produced about the same modulus of rupture but lower permeability than the control concrete at 28-day and 90-day moist curing. The silica fume concrete reaches its minimum permeability at a silica fume addition of around 10% by weight of cement while the modulus of rupture reaches its maximum at 20% addition. Empirical relationships between different concrete properties were developed and were found to be very close to those in the ACI codes. An optimum mix design, which minimizes permeability, maximizes strengths and is suitable for use in practice, was recommended. A portable field apparatus was developed to measure the water permeability of in-service concrete. The apparatus was tested in the laboratory and in the field and found to be easy to operate and give consistent results which correlate well with the permeability measured in the laboratory.

• Corporate Authors:

  University of Florida, Gainesville

  Engineering and Industrial Experiment Station
  Gainesville, FL  United States  32611

  Florida Department of Transportation

  Haydon Burns Building, 605 Suwanee Street
  Tallahassee, FL  United States  32301

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Tia, M
  • Bloomquist, D
  • Yang, MCK
  • Soongswang, P
  • MELETIOU, C A
  • Amornsrivilai, P
  • Dobson, E
  • RICHARDSON, D
• Publication Date: 1990-8

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 250 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aggregates; Alluvium; Cement; Concrete; Concrete curing; Curing agents; Field tests; Fly ash; Laboratory tests; Limestone aggregates; Mix design; Modulus of rupture; Permeability; Portable equipment; Silica fume; Steam curing; Testing equipment; Water cement ratio
• Uncontrolled Terms: Aggregate size; Moist curing; River gravel
• Old TRIS Terms: Cement type
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; Materials; I32: Concrete;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00497307
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FL/DOT/SMO/89/361
• Contract Numbers: 86-22
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Sep 30 1990 12:00AM