Rapid Chloride Permeability Test Apparatus

3 cell RCPT apparatus:

No. Of cells : three cells

Power supply : 60 volt dc supply to three cells
Protections : fuse for each cell
Temperature sense : PT 100 sensorX3
Indications : digital voltmeter three digit seven
segment LED display
LCD display : 4line LCD indicates Currents in milli
ampere and temperature of concrete mould in the three cells
DAQ system : Six point DAQ system provided
Soft ware : PC interface software provided
Communication to PC: through USB cable
Cells details : as per the specifications
 Specifications of RCPT cells:
 Each RCPT cell will be made up of transparent acrylic
material of 150 * 150mm* 50mm thick as per ASTMC
1202.
 It will hold the concrete specimen of 100mm diameter
50mm thick.
 It will be provided with rubber gasket and washers for
achieving leak proof.
 Stainless steel bolts with washers and nuts will be
provided to hold the specimen rigidly.
 The power supply will be applied to each cell through
banana sockets and the current will be distributed through
the brass mesh.
 Each cell will be provided with openings in top for pouring
chemicals and the temperature sensors. The openings
can be closed with lids.
 The volume of chemicals within the chamber shall be
250ml.
RCPT CELLS made up of acrylic material as per ASTM C
1202.

Take acrylic diffuser cell set and assemble the concrete

specimen between the cells. Ensure that brass washer and the
neoprene rubber washers are properly seated. Check for any
gap between the edges of concrete specimen and the acrylic
diffuser cell. Apply silicon compound over the edges and to the
surface of the concrete specimen to arrest the leakage of
chemical solutions while testing.

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 Cell1 is filled with sodium chloride solution of 3% strength
and is to be connected to the negative supply of the RCPT
apparatus. Cell 2 is filled with sodium hydroxide solution of 0.3M
strength and connected to the 60 volt positive supply of the
apparatus. Each cell will hold approximately 250 ml of solution.

Preparing specimen:

The concrete specimens are made using standard moulds

of 100mm diameter x 200 mm height moulds. After the curing
period the concrete moulds are cut in 50 mm thick specimen
using circular saw cutting machine.

Data Acquisition system connection to the Computer:

The 3 channel data acquisition system is connected the computer
through USB port connector. The data can be transferred to the PC
through USB port.
The equipment is supplied with software for 3 cell RCPT apparatus,
the driver and software for 6 channel Data Acquisition System.
The Visual basic software is required for the functioning of the Data
Acquisition software.
Installation of software:
Switch on the computer
Insert the 3 cell RCPT CD
Right Click the 3 channel Logger folder
Right click the set up folder
Install the files.
The software is loaded into the programme file.
The icon is created in the desk top.
To start the data logger always click the icon.

Install the driver soft ware CD

Connect the data logger through USB cable to the computer.
Find out the com port.
Go to the computer mode. Right Click the mouse and click the
Properties icon and Open the Device Manager folder. Double click
the Device Manager. Find out the com port number.

Click the data logger Icon.

The form1 will open.
Light hand side corner com port window is available. Set the
previously noted com port number.
Then press set button. Green window mark indicates the start of
data acquisition. All the data available in the equipment’s LCD panel
is displayed in the monitor also.

Functioning of key switches:

Press MENU key to go the main menu.
Press INC key to scroll submenu items.
Press DEC key to select the digit and then press the INC key to
change the values.
Press ENTER key to save the data and then to main menu.
Press DEC key to toggle between indication screen and the status
screen.
Press INC key and hold for 10-15 seconds to transfer and save the
recorded data into the PC.
The logger automatically transfers the data from the memory to PC
as soon as the logging period is completed. The data stored in an
excel file.
The data also can be transferred to the PC manually by pressing the
INC key continuously for 10-15 seconds.
Digital Calibration: this should be done only by a trained Engineer.
Press the INC key and ENTER key switch off the instrument. By
holding the switches again switch on the instrument. The LCD display
shows CALIBRATION. Then release the keys, the equipment will go to
calibration mode.
Toggle the DEC key to scroll between ZERO AND SPAN. The channel 1
is selected. Press the enter key. Change the value of input reading
using INC and DEC key. After completion press the enter key.
Channel 2 will be selected. Press the ENTER key for prompt selection.
Repeat the calibration process as mentioned earlier. Do the same
process till the last channel.
Preparing specimen:
The concrete specimens are made using standard moulds of 100mm
diameter x 200 mm height moulds. After the curing period the
concrete moulds are cut in 50 mm thick specimen using circular saw
cutting machine.
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Preparation of Chemicals:
The diffuser cell consists of two chambers. Chamber one is filled with
sodium chloride solution and another is filled with sodium hydroxide
solution. The strength of sodium chloride solution is 3% and the
strength of sodium hydroxide solution is 0.3M.
Molar solutions are the most useful in chemical reaction calculations
because they directly relate the moles of solute to the volume of
solution.

Formula

The formula for molarity (M) is: moles of solute / 1 liter of solution or
gram-molecular masses of solute / 1 liter of solution.

Examples

The molecular weight of a sodium chloride molecule (NaCl) is 58.44,

so one gram-molecular mass (=1 mole) is 58.44 g. We know this by
looking at the periodic table. The atomic mass (or weight) of Na is
22.99, the atomic mass of Cl is 35.45, so 22.99 + 35.45 = 58.44.

If you dissolve 30 gram of NaCl in a final volume of 1 litre, you have

made a 3% NaCl solution.

Procedure:To make molar 0.3M NaOH solution.3x 40 grams=12

gram of NaOH salt is dissolved with 1000ml of solution.

Na Sodium 22.989769282

O Oxygen 15.99943
 H Hydrogen 1.007947

Cell1 is filled with sodium chloride solution of 3% strength and is to

be connected to the negative supply of the RCPT apparatus.
Cell 2 is filled with sodium hydroxide solution of 2.4M strength and
connected to the 60 volt positive supply of the apparatus. Each cell
will hold approximately 250 ml of solution.
Vacuum Desiccators

Place the desiccators and vacuum pump nearby to connect them

properly through rubber tube. Keep the stand which holds the water
tank near the desiccators. The desiccator’s lid is provided with knob
two valve openings. The openings are to connect the vacuum pump
and the water tank through rubber tubes.

The desiccators are provided with ceramic insulator to keep concrete

specimens for testing. Lift the lid of desiccators and apply little bit of
silicon compound over the mouth surfaces. Place the lid over the
mouth and gently slide it over the mouth for uniform distribution of
silicon compound over the surface. Place the concrete specimens, to
be tested inside the chamber. Connect tube to the vacuum pump.
Both the valves should be kept closed. Start the vacuum pump. Open
the valve connected to the pump. All the air particles in the concrete
specimen are removed. Run pump for one or two minutes. Then
close the valve and switch off the pump.
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Open the water from the tank to flow into the chamber. Close the
valve after the concrete specimens kept inside the chamber are fully
immersed. The water will occupy the air pockets within the
specimen. Now the concrete specimen are ready for permeability
test.

Take acrylic diffuser cell set and assemble the concrete specimen
between the cells. Ensure that brass washer and the neoprene
rubber washers are properly seated. Check for any gap between the
edges of concrete specimen and the acrylic diffuser cell. Apply silicon
compound over the edges and to the surface of the concrete
specimen to arrest the leakage of chemical solutions while testing.

Cell1 is filled with sodium chloride solution of 0.3M strength and is to

be connected to the negative supply of the RCPT apparatus. Cell 2 is
filled with sodium hydroxide solution of 2.4M strength and
connected to the60 volt positive supply of the apparatus. Each cell
will hold approximately 250 ml of solution.

Assembly of diffuser cell:

The diffuser cell is provided with power connecting terminal, the

terminal is connected to brass mesh for distributing the current
uniformly throughout the area of cross section. To seat the concrete
module properly a groove is provided in the acrylic diffuser cell. The
groove is provided with brass washer and the neoprene rubber
washer to arrest the leakage of chemical solutions. Four corners of
the cell s are provided with fixing holes. The concrete specimen is
placed between the two cells and tightened using stainless steel
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bolts and nuts. Sodium hydroxide solution is poured into one
chamber and sodium chloride solution is poured in another chamber.
If there is gap in the edges silicon compound can be applied over the
edges and the surface of the concrete specimen to arrest the leakage
if any. The cells are ready for conducting the test for chloride
permeability.

We can set the record time as 30 minutes and also the Log time as 6
hours. The data logger will take the readings of corresponding cells
at the every record time with its initial readings. At the end of Log
time, the system should stop after taking the final reading.

Now the stored data will be transferred to the PC. The equipment
will calculate the total charge flow through the all cells using the
formula.

Calculation :

Average current flowing through one cell is calculated by,

I = 900 * 2 * ICUMMULATIVE coulombs.

ICUMMULATIVE = ( I0 + I360)/2+I30 +I60 + I90 + I120 +I150 + I180 +I210 + I240 +I270
+ I300 +I330.

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Where,

I0 = Initial current reading in mA.

I30 = Current reading at 30 minutes in mA.

I60 = Current reading at 60 minutes in mA.

I90 = Current reading at 90 minutes in mA.

I120 = Current reading at 120 minutes in mA.

I150 = Current reading at 150 minutes in mA.

I180 = Current reading at 180 minutes in mA.

I210 = Current reading at 210 minutes in mA.

I240 = Current reading at 240 minutes in mA.

I270 = Current reading at 270 minutes in mA.

I300 = Current reading at 300 minutes in mA.

I330 = Current reading at 330 minutes in mA.

I360 = Current reading at 360 minutes in mA.

CHLORIDE PERMEABILITY:

CURRENT in Coulombs Penetrability of chloride

> 4000 coulombs HIGH

1000 - 4000 NORMAL

< 1000 LOW

GRAPH MAKING:

The reading chart from the PC will in an excel file. Current readings and the
timings of all the channels are available in excel file. The temperature readings
of channels at the test period also given. The temperature readings are taken
for analysis of concrete moulds.

The time Vs current graph:

In a separate sheet the real time and current in milli ampere are entered as in
sheet 1. Select all the readings. All in the excel file only. Then click insert
cursor. Recommended chart will be visible. Click recommended chart. Many
graphs will appear. Select the suitable graph pattern and press the enter key.
The size of graph can be altered using the mouse. Similarly current graph for all
the cells can be drawn.