Experimental Study on Durability of Normal and High Performance Concrete

Abstract

Classification of concrete is often most feasible means for measuring the durability and has become progressively over the past 20 years. The present study is focused on the capability of concrete to improve its durability when the concrete is subjected to the highly aggressive environments. Current concrete in cold or seaside regions are affected by chloride ingress beneath the freeze-thaw cycles. This collective weakening process quickens the damage advancement of concrete and decreases the service life of the structures. In real life the structure may face numerous deterioration contrivances due to environmental factors surrounded by the concrete. A variety of laboratory test method were used for the determination of durability, which provide number of results, such as rapid chloride penetration value, electrical conductivity, sulphate immersion value on concrete, acid immersion on concrete, water absorption rate, and absorption in concrete due to the capillary action i.e. through sorptivity test. For evaluating the durability of concrete, to a single contrivance of deterioration most of the techniques were economical and appropriate. For determining the durability of concrete the Ordinary Portland Cement was used. Two dissimilar concrete were tested: one concrete of grade M30 and the other high performance concrete of grade M60, to show the influence of water/cement ratio on durability of concrete. The result showed that M60 grade of concrete made with micro silica and high range water reducer as a chemical admixture showed greater resistance to all the attack studied in this study as well as it also showed a lesser water absorption rate in same time period than M30 grade of concrete.