Testing Methods to Assess the Durability of Concrete Permeability Reducing Admixtures

Hydrophobic pore blocking admixtures and crystalline admixtures are permeability-reducing admixtures (PRAs) marketed to reduce water ingress into and increase the service life of reinforced concrete. Because corrosion of steel reinforcement is the main cause of deterioration and repair expenses for reinforced concrete structures owned by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), reducing the permeability and limiting cracking is important for concrete durability. The varied chemistry and mechanisms used by PRAs necessitate rigorous performance-based tests to determine their efficacy and potential benefits to FDOT. A literature review was performed to determine if there are existing test methods that can quantify the performance of chemical PRAs and what acceptance limits, if available, should be used to qualify PRAs for use in FDOT structures. It was found that among the hydrophobic pore blocking or crystalline admixtures examined, seven groupings of active ingredients and reaction types were identified. A review of penetrability tests used showed that nine different water absorption, six different water permeability, four different electrical tests, and three vapor/ gas permeability tests were used. PRA field studies examined did not systematically investigate the ability of these different tests to predict field performance of PRAs in the range of water-cementitious material ratios used by FDOT. Recommended acceptance criteria for PRAs with rapid laboratory penetrability and durability tests was not found in any of the literature examined. Recommendations for a future study to determine PRA test requirements and acceptance criteria are given.

• Record URL:
  https://fdotwww.blob.core.windows.net/sitefinity/docs/default-source/research/reports/fdot-bdv31-977-130-rpt.pdf
• 
• Summary URL:
  https://fdotwww.blob.core.windows.net/sitefinity/docs/default-source/research/reports/fdot-bdv31-977-130-sum.pdf
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Cover date: July 2020.
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Florida, Gainesville

  Department of Civil and Coastal Engineering, P.O. Box 116580
  Gainesville, FL  United States  32611-6580

  Florida Department of Transportation

  Tallahassee, FL  United States  32399

  Department of Transportation

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Riding, Kyle A
  • Tibbetts, Caitlin M
  • Ferraro, Christopher C
• Publication Date: 2020-5

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 69p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Acceptance sampling; Admixtures; Durability tests; Literature reviews; Permeability; Test procedures
• Geographic Terms: Florida
• Subject Areas: Materials; Transportation (General);

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01761745
• Record Type: Publication
• Contract Numbers: BDV31-977-130
• Files: TRIS, ATRI, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Dec 10 2020 10:07AM