Influence of aggregate size on the mechanical and transport properties of concretes and concrete-equivalent mortars

Abstract

In this study, the influence of the aggregate size on the mechanical and transport properties of concrete and concrete-equivalent mortars is investigated. A concrete mixture was proportioned having a water–cement ratio of 0.45 and a cement content of 450 kg/m3 with a maximum aggregate size of 22.4 mm. Then, keeping the total aggregate surface area constant, three mixtures were proportioned with the same water–cement ratio, but the maximum aggregate size decreased to 16, 8, and 4 mm using the concrete-equivalent mortar method. Mechanical properties including compressive strength, splitting tensile strength and transport properties including rapid chloride permeability, water sorptivity, water absorption, and water permeability tests were performed at 7 and 28 d. Test results revealed that decreasing the maximum aggregate size increased the water permeability, rapid chloride permeability, water absorption, and sorptivity values, but decreased the compressive and split tensile strengths of concrete and concrete-equivalent mortars.