Properties of self compacting concrete exposed to wetting and drying cycles in oil products

Abstract

Although the early deterioration of concrete exposed to petroleum products has being observed yet, the behavior of Self Compacting Concrete (SCC) being exposure to oil products is still unknown. In the present investigation, the mechanical and physical properties of hardened SCC cyclically being exposed to oil products (crude oil, gas oil, motor oil and fuel oil) have tested and discussed. The numbers of exposure cycles are 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. Each exposure cycle consists of twenty days immersion in water or different oil products followed by air drying at ambient temperature for a period of ten days. The results have been compared to other specimens cured in water or continuously exposed to oil products for the same period. The results show that the effect of continuous exposure to oil products on the mechanical properties is more severe than that of cyclic exposure of SCC specimens. The compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, modulus of rupture, and static modulus of elasticity of SCC specimens have slightly deteriorated until the fifth cycle of exposure for all types of oil products comparing to reference specimens (cured in water). Eventually at the sixth cycle all properties have decreased.