Relationship of moisture content with temperature and relative humidity in concrete

Abstract

Variations of temperature and moisture content in concrete arise as the effects of climate load in a natural environment; because it can be easily measured, relative humidity is often used as a transition index reflecting moisture content. Determination of the relationship between moisture content and temperature/humidity in concrete is of great significance in accurate prediction of the durability of reinforced concrete structures. Under constant temperature conditions, measurements of both relative humidity and moisture content in concrete are carried out synchronously. Results show that pore water saturation, considered as the characterisation of moisture content, changes non-linearly with relative humidity in concrete; the evolution is significantly influenced by the water–cement ratio and temperature. Finally, based on experimental results and theoretical analysis, a model of the relationship between pore water saturation, temperature and relative humidity in concrete is established, and its feasibility is verified through an independent test.