Determination of Acceptance Permeability Characteristics for Performance-Related Specifications ...

165 Pages·2003·0.86 MB·English

Determination of Acceptance Permeability Characteristics for
Performance-Related Specifications for Portland Cement Concrete

Final Report

Submitted to

Florida Department of Transportation
(Contract No. BC 354-41)

BY

Abdol R. Chini, Larry C. Muszynski, and Jamie Hicks

M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Building Construction
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL 32611

July 2003
Determination of Acceptance Permeability

Characteristics for Performance-Related
Specifications for Portland Cement Concrete

This report is prepared in cooperation with the State of Florida Department of
Transportation and the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The opinions, findings and conclusions expressed in this report are those of the
authors and not necessarily those of the State of Florida Department of
Transportation or the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Technical Report Documentation Page
1. Report No. 2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient’s Catalog No.

4. Title and Subtitle 5. Report Date
Determination of Acceptance Permeability Characteristics July 11, 2003
for Performance-Related Specifications for Portland
Cement Concrete 6. Performing Organization Code

7. Author’s 8. Performing Organization Report No.
Abdol R. Chini, Larry C. Muszynski, Jamie K. Hicks

9. Performing Organization Name and Address 10. Work Unit (TRAIS)
M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Building Construction

University of Florida

RNK 304, PO Box 115703 11. Contract or Grant No.
Gainesville, FL 32611 BC 354-41

12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address 13. Type of Report and Period Covered
Florida Department of Transportation Final (March 20, 2001 to June 15, 2003)

605 Suwannee Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0450 14. Sponsoring Agency Code

15. Supplementary Notes
Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Transportation.

16. Abstract
The concrete strength has been measured for a long time; however, it is becoming increasingly desirable to the Florida
Department of Transportation (FDOT) to have the ability to measure concrete’s durability in addition. One test to assess
durability of concrete is the Rapid Chloride Permeability (RCP) test. This test records the amount of charge passed through a
sample in order to evaluate its permeability. The FDOT has the desire to make the transition from a prescriptive specification
style to a performance-based specification. This research project consists of the determination of the RCP values of all classes of
concrete that are specified in FDOT specifications. This goal was accomplished by taking concrete test cylinders from projects
that were under construction during the study. Samples are divided by FDOT concrete class and then by composition,
specifically their pozzolanic additives, for evaluation. Test value recommendations are made according to these categories. The
RCP test has been around for approximately 20 years and is widely used. However, the test is labor intensive and therefore
costly. For this reason, an alternative Non Destructive Test (NDT) called the Surface Resistivity test is being evaluated as a
possible replacement. The Surface Resistivity test uses a Wenner 4-probe array and a small alternating current to make
instantaneous readings. The readings are returned by a data acquisition unit as an indication of the concrete’s ability to conduct
current. This project also applied this test to the samples in order to reveal a relationship between the two tests (i.e. RCP and
Surface Resistivity test) of which a good correlation has been shown. Values for Surface Resistivity as well as a table to aid in
the interpretation of results have been provided. Lastly, recommendations for RCP test improvement are suggested in order to
improve on the test until an appropriate alternative is arrived at and agreed upon.

17. Key Words 18. Distribution Statement
Concrete Durability, Permeability, No restriction
This report is available to the public through the National Technical Information
Performance-based Specifications
Service, Springfield, VA 22161

19. Security Classif. (of this report) 20. Security Classif. (of this page) 21. No. of Pages 22. Price
Unclassified Unclassified 162
ABSTRACT

The concrete strength has been measured for a long time; however, it is becoming
increasingly desirable to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to have the
ability to measure concrete(cid:146)s durability in addition. One test to assess durability of
concrete is the Rapid Chloride Permeability (RCP) test. This test records the amount of
charge passed through a sample in order to evaluate its permeability. The FDOT has the
desire to make the transition from a prescriptive specification style to a performance-
based specification. This research project consists of the determination of the RCP
values of all classes of concrete that are specified in FDOT specifications. This goal was
accomplished by taking concrete test cylinders from projects that were under construction
during the study. Samples are divided by FDOT concrete class and then by composition,
specifically their pozzolanic additives, for evaluation. Test value recommendations are
made according to these categories.
The RCP test has been around for approximately 20 years and is widely used.
However, the test is labor intensive and therefore costly. For this reason, an alternative
Non Destructive Test (NDT) called the Surface Electrical Resistivity test is being
evaluated as a possible replacement. The Surface Electrical Resistivity test uses a
Wenner 4-probe array and a small alternating current to make instantaneous readings.
The readings are returned by a data acquisition unit as an indication of the concrete(cid:146)s
ability to conduct current. This project also applied this test to the samples in order to
reveal a relationship between the two tests (i.e. RCP and Surface Resistivity test) of
which a good correlation has been shown. Values for Surface Resistivity as well as a
table to aid in the interpretation of results have been provided.
i
Lastly, recommendations for RCP test improvement are suggested in order to
improve on the test until an appropriate alternative is arrived at and agreed upon.
ii
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The research reported here was sponsored by the Florida Department of
Transportation. Sincere thanks are due to Mike Bergin, P.E., State Structural Materials
Engineer, State Materials Office in Gainesville, Florida for his guidance, support, and
encouragement.
Special thanks to Charles Ishee, Structural Materials Engineer and Ghulam
Mujtaba, Concrete Materials Engineer, State Materials Office in Gainesville, Florida for
their guidance and contribution made during the course of the project, and for their
review of this report and helpful suggestions. Sincere appreciation is due to Mario
Paredes, of the FDOT State Materials Office Corrosion Lab for countless hours of
discussion as well as technical support throughout the project. Math McNally, Matt
Taylor, Brandi Tait, Wayne Sinclair, and Charlotte Kasper ran testing, and without their
help this project would never have completed. We thank them for the accuracy and level
of professionalism they brought to the project. Tim Ruelke was instrumental in
coordinating tests performed in the FDOT Materials Lab in Lake City for comparing
results from two laboratories. His active participation in this project is appreciated.

iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
page

ABSTRACT.........................................................................................................................i
Abstract................................................................................................................................i
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.................................................................................................iii
LIST OF TABLES............................................................................................................vii
LIST OF FIGURES...........................................................................................................ix
INTRODUCTION...............................................................................................................1
LITERATURE REVIEW....................................................................................................3
Physical Factors..............................................................................................................5
Environmental..........................................................................................................5
Design......................................................................................................................7
Operational.............................................................................................................12
Micro-Level of Concrete...............................................................................................13
Pore Structure.........................................................................................................13
Pore Water Composition........................................................................................15
Mix Design Factors.......................................................................................................17
Water-Cement Ratio..............................................................................................19
Curing Conditions..................................................................................................20
Type of Cement and Pozzolanic Admixtures........................................................21
Air-Entraining Agents............................................................................................24
Measurement Methods of Concrete Durability.............................................................25
Chloride/ Salt-Ponding Test...................................................................................26
Rapid Chloride Permeability Test..........................................................................26
Migration Cells......................................................................................................31
Surface Electrical Resistivity Test.........................................................................32
METHODOLOGY............................................................................................................44
Rapid Chloride Permeability Test.................................................................................44
Sample Preparation................................................................................................44
Pre-test Requirements............................................................................................46
Run Test and Collect Data.....................................................................................47
Clean Up................................................................................................................49
Surface Resistivity Test................................................................................................51
iv
DATA PRESENTATION..................................................................................................54
Sample...........................................................................................................................54
Sample Population........................................................................................................54
Concrete Classes....................................................................................................54
Class of Concrete No of Sets of samples...........................................................56
Geographic Districts..............................................................................................56
Concrete Mix Designs............................................................................................58
Samples with High RCP Values............................................................................59
Class II..........................................................................................................................61
Rapid Chloride Permeability Test..........................................................................61
Surface Resistivity.................................................................................................61
Class II Bridge Deck.....................................................................................................67
Rapid Chloride Permeability Test..........................................................................67
Surface Resistivity Test..........................................................................................68
Correlation between RCP and Surface Resistivity Results....................................68
Class IV.........................................................................................................................73
Rapid Chloride Permeability Test..........................................................................73
Surface Resistivity.................................................................................................75
Correlation between RCP and Surface Resistivity.................................................76
Class IV Drilled Shaft...................................................................................................82
Rapid Chloride Permeability Test..........................................................................82
Surface Resistivity Test..........................................................................................83
Correlation between RCP and Surface Resistivity Test Results............................83
Class V..........................................................................................................................89
Sample....................................................................................................................89
Rapid Chloride Permeability Test..........................................................................89
Surface Resistivity.................................................................................................89
Correlation between RCP and Surface Resistivity Test Results............................90
Class V Special.............................................................................................................92
Rapid Chloride Permeability Test..........................................................................92
Surface Resistivity.................................................................................................92
Correlation between RCP and Surface Resistivity Test Results............................94
Class VI.........................................................................................................................98
Rapid Chloride Permeability Test..........................................................................98
Surface Resistivity.................................................................................................98
Correlation between RCP and Surface Resistivity Test Results............................99
Comparing Results from Two Laboratories...............................................................100
RCP Test Results using Alternative Methods to Seal Samples..................................101
Spray Alternative to Seal RCP Samples..............................................................102
Tape Alternative to Seal RCP Samples................................................................103
CONCLUSIONS..............................................................................................................105
Individual Concrete Class Recommendations............................................................105
Recommended Values at Different Confidence Levels.......................................106
Recommendation.................................................................................................113
RCP test Standard Limit Drawbacks...................................................................114
v
RCP / Surface Resistivity............................................................................................115
Testing Procedure Improvements...............................................................................118
MASTER LIST OF SAMPLE DATA.............................................................................119
LIST OF REFERENCES.................................................................................................149

vi
LIST OF TABLES
Table page

Table 4.1 Specified Compressive Strength of FDOT Concrete Classes...........................54
Table 4.2 Sampling Distribution from each Class of Concrete........................................56
Table 4.3 Sample Distributions Across FDOT Districts...................................................56
Table 4.4 AASHTO Table Guiding RCP Test Value Interpretation................................59
Table 4.5 Failed Samples by Class...................................................................................60
Table 4.6 RCP and Surface Resistivity Test Results of Class II Concrete.......................62
Table 4.7 The RCP and Surface Resistivity Results of Class II Bridge Deck..................67
Table 4.8 RCP and Surface Resistivity Test Result of Class IV Concrete Samples........74
Table 4.9 RCP and Surface Resistivity Test Result of Class IV DS Concrete Samples..82
Table 4.10 RCP and Surface Resistivity Test Result of Class V Concrete Samples........89
Table 4.11 RCP and Surface Resistivity Test Result of Class V S Concrete Samples.....93
Table 4.12 RCP and Surface Resistivity Test Result of Class VI Concrete Samples......98
Table 4.13 Comparing Statistical Results of RCP test from Two Laboratories.............101
Table 4.14 Comparing Qualities of Epoxy, Spray, and Tape Methods..........................104
Table 5.1 Recommended Allowable RCP and Surface Resistivity Values for Class II.107
Table 5.2 Recommended Allowable RCP and SR for Class II Bridge Deck.................108
Table 5.3 Recommended Allowable RCP and SR Values for Class IV.........................109
Table 5.4 Recommended Allowable RCP and SR Values for Class IV Drilled Shaft...110
Table 5.5 Recommended Allowable RCP and Surface Resistivity Values for Class V.111
Table 5.6 Recommended Allowable RCP and SR Values for Class V Special.............112
vii