EFFECT OF W/C-RATIO, CURING CONDITIONS AND TESTING AGE ON CONCRETE PERFORMANCE

FOR SERVICE LIFE DESIGN – Ebensperger, Olivares

RESEARCH UPDATE
EFFECT OF W/C-RATIO, CURING CONDITIONS AND TESTING AGE ON CONCRETE
PERFORMANCE FOR SERVICE LIFE DESIGN

Ebensperger, Luis1, Olivares, Mario2

1: Construtechnik Ltda., Concrete Technology Consultant
ctk@vtr.net
2: Universidad Católica de Chile, DICTUC, Materials Resistance Area, Special Services Section.
maolivar@dictuc.cl

ABSTRACT

The effect of the permeability of the concrete cover on the long-term performance of concrete
structures is well known. This layer is the one that offers resistance to the ingress of harmful agents,
such as CO2 that leads to carbonation and of chlorides, through the porous microstructure. Both
phenomena eventually lead to corrosion of the steel reinforcement of the structural elements, seriously
affecting the service life of the structure.
Different assessment methodologies for service life design are available, which through prescriptive or
more advanced approaches, like probabilistic, require a detailed analysis of the real environmental
conditions to which the structure will be subjected. Only in this way it is possible to make assessments
for projects that require, for example, service life of 100 years or even longer.
Unfortunately, the quality of the finished construction shows a high scatter and variability, and
regardless of how precise the chosen design method, it is necessary to select performance indicators
which can be later applied during concrete construction with an adequate Quality Control. A series of
trials tests have been developed worldwide and incorporated into these models of analysis.
This work shows the results of a research carried out in laboratory that allows obtaining basic
performance data of concrete mixtures executed with typical Chilean materials. The study parameters
were the water/cement ratio used (indirectly the cement content), the curing conditions of the samples,
and the age of testing concrete (up to 180 days).
The concrete mixtures were characterized by a series of usual standardized tests, in order to obtain
correlations between them. The tests considered, Compressive Strength, Surface Electrical Resistivity,
Water Permeability, Penetration- Migration- and Diffusion of Chlorides, are correlated to the Torrent Air
Permeability test results. This last test offers, together with the measurement of the concrete cover
thickness, an innovative methodology that allows specifying and designing the concrete mix for a given
service life, and then in-situ, monitoring in a non-destructive way the quality during the construction
process and finally in the end-product.
This update presents only the laboratory results obtained in the different tests.

Keywords: Concrete, Durability, Service Life, non-destructive Testing, Quality Control on-site

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EFFECT OF W/C-RATIO, CURING CONDITIONS AND TESTING AGE ON CONCRETE PERFORMANCE
FOR SERVICE LIFE DESIGN – Ebensperger, Olivares

Performance Laboratory tests

CD RCPT RCM
Chloride Diffusion Rapid Chloride Penetration Test Rapid Chloride Migration
ASTM C1556 ASTM C1202 NTBuild 492

SR WP kT
Surface Resistivity Water Penetration Air Permeability
AASHTO TP95 NCh2262 – EN 12390-8 SIA 262-1/E

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EFFECT OF W/C-RATIO, CURING CONDITIONS AND TESTING AGE ON CONCRETE PERFORMANCE
FOR SERVICE LIFE DESIGN – Ebensperger, Olivares

Standardized Preconditioning
 NCh1037: “Ensayo de compresión de probetas cúbicas y cilíndricas” – “Test for Compressive
Strength for cubic and cylindrical specimens”
 Specimens are maintained 1 day in molds in wet chamber + 27 days cured under a lime-
saturated water.
 ASTM C1556: “Standard Test Method for Determining the Apparent Chloride Diffusion
Coefficient of Cementitious Mixtures by Bulk Diffusion”
 Specimens are maintained 1 day in molds in wet chamber + 27 days cured under a lime-
saturated water.
 The bottom and side surfaces of the 100mm cylinders, height 75mm, are completed
sealed with a coating. The top surface must be cleaned from possible formation of a
calcium carbonate layer when drying.
 In order to saturate the specimens, when they are surface-dry, placed them in a vacuum
desiccator for 3 hours. Both end surfaces must be exposed. Reduce the absolute
pressure in the vacuum container to a pressure in the range of 10–50 mbar (1–5 kPa)
within a few minutes. Then it´s filled with de-aerated water and vacuum is maintained
for 1 additional hour before allowing air to re-enter the container.
 Finally place the specimens in a container filled with a sodium chloride solution for at
least 35 days.
 ASTM C1202: “Standard Test Method for Electrical Indication of Concrete's Ability to Resist
Chloride Ion Penetration”
 Specimens are maintained 1 day in molds in wet chamber + 27 days cured under a lime-
saturated water. The underwater curing may be extended to 56 or 90 days when
supplementary cements are used.
 The side surfaces of the 100mm cylinders, height 50mm, are completed sealed with a
coating.
 In order to saturate the specimens, when they are surface-dry, placed them in a vacuum
desiccator for 3 hours. Both end surfaces must be exposed. Reduce the absolute
pressure in the vacuum container to a pressure in the range of 10–50 mbar (1–5 kPa)
within a few minutes. Then it´s filled with de-aerated water and vacuum is maintained
for 1 additional hour before allowing air to re-enter the container.
 NTBuild 492: “Chloride Migration Coefficient from non-steady-state Migration Experiments”
 The side surfaces of the 100mm cylinders, height 50mm, are completed sealed with a
coating.
 After sawing, brush and wash away any burrs from the surfaces of the specimen, and
wipe off excess water from the surfaces of the specimen. When the specimens are
surface-dry, place them in the vacuum container for vacuum treatment. Both end
surfaces must be exposed. Reduce the absolute pressure in the vacuum container to a
pressure in the range of 10–50 mbar (1–5 kPa) within a few minutes.
 Maintain the vacuum for three hours and then, with the vacuum pump still running, fill
the container with the lime-saturated so as to immerse all the specimens. Maintain the

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EFFECT OF W/C-RATIO, CURING CONDITIONS AND TESTING AGE ON CONCRETE PERFORMANCE
FOR SERVICE LIFE DESIGN – Ebensperger, Olivares

vacuum for a further hour before allowing air to re-enter the container. Keep the
specimens in the solution for 18 ± 2 hours.
 AASHTO TP95: “Surface Resistivity Indication of Concrete’s Ability to Resist Chloride Ion
Penetration”
 Specimens are maintained 1 day in molds in moist-cured chamber + 27 days cured under
the same conditions. Specimens cured under lime- saturated water shows 10% lower
results.
 During testing the specimen surface should be saturated wet.
 NCh2262 – EN 12390-8: “Determinación de la Permeabilidad al Agua – Método de la Penetración
de Agua bajo Presión” – “Testing hardened concrete. Depth of penetration of water under
pressure”
 Specimens are maintained 1 day in molds in wet chamber + 27 days cured under a lime-
saturated water.
 At the age of 3 days the surface that will be tested needs to be roughened with a
metallic brush. The area that will not be subject to pressure should be sealed.
 SIA 262-1/E: “Betonbau – Ergänzende Festlegungen - Luftpermeabilität am Bauwerk” –
“Concrete Structures – Supplementary Specifications – Air-Permeability on the Structure“
 For on-site the surface humidity needs to be checked through electrical impedance
measurement (RH < 5.5%) according to “Swiss Recommendations for Quality Control of
Concrete with Air-Permeability Measurements”, VSS Report 641, 2010, Zürich.
 Materials Advanced Services: “NDT Measurement of the Permeability of Concrete to Air –
Laboratory Procedure“, v14.06, 2014.
 For on-site the surface humidity needs to be checked through electrical impedance
measurement (RH < 5.5%) according to “Swiss Recommendations for Quality Control of
Concrete with Air-Permeability Measurements”, VSS Report 641, 2010, Zürich.

Curing Conditions
 28 days under water plus continuous dry chamber environment (standardized condition)
 7 days under water plus continuous dry chamber environment
 1 day in mold under water plus continuous dry chamber environment

Materials and Mix Design

Typical High Resistance Portland Pozzolanic cement (max 30% pozzolan) was used, with following mix
design:

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EFFECT OF W/C-RATIO, CURING CONDITIONS AND TESTING AGE ON CONCRETE PERFORMANCE
FOR SERVICE LIFE DESIGN – Ebensperger, Olivares

 250 kg/m3 of cement --> w/c=0.70

 288 kg/m3 of cement --> w/c =0.60
 346 kg/m3 of cement --> w/c =0.50
 425 kg/m3 of cement --> w/c= 0.40

Two siliceous crushed aggregate grades were used (0-10mm / 10-20mm). Water content was fixed at
174 lt/m3. Target slump from 10cm was obtained through Type A Additive.

Age of Testing
It is planned to perform tests at following ages:
 28 days
 90 days
 180 days
 360 days

Results at 28 days

Strength development for 28d-cured concretes at age of 1d, 7d and 28d

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EFFECT OF W/C-RATIO, CURING CONDITIONS AND TESTING AGE ON CONCRETE PERFORMANCE
FOR SERVICE LIFE DESIGN – Ebensperger, Olivares

Effect of curing conditions at age of 28d on Strength

Effect of curing conditions at age of 28d on SR

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EFFECT OF W/C-RATIO, CURING CONDITIONS AND TESTING AGE ON CONCRETE PERFORMANCE
FOR SERVICE LIFE DESIGN – Ebensperger, Olivares

Effect of curing conditions at age of 28d on WP

Effect of curing conditions at age of 28d on RCPT

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EFFECT OF W/C-RATIO, CURING CONDITIONS AND TESTING AGE ON CONCRETE PERFORMANCE
FOR SERVICE LIFE DESIGN – Ebensperger, Olivares

Effect of curing conditions at age of 28d on RCM

Effect of curing conditions at age of 28d on CD

Notes
1) test for mix AC060 C-1d will be repeated.
2) due to high variability of calculated CD values, instead of using the chloride profile it was adjusted the Total
Chloride Content (integral of the profile).

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EFFECT OF W/C-RATIO, CURING CONDITIONS AND TESTING AGE ON CONCRETE PERFORMANCE
FOR SERVICE LIFE DESIGN – Ebensperger, Olivares

Effect of curing conditions at age of 28d on kT

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