The evaluation of the abrasion damage in hydraulic structures using the modified test method

Abstract

Disastrous damages can occur in the strategic structures such as the stilling basins due to the action of waterborne solid that withdrawn by the flowing water of very high velocities. Such phenomenon can impose high maintenance efforts and costs, and minimize the service life of these structures. One of the available solutions is the improvement of the concrete mixture to resist the abrasion damage. In this paper, the abrasion resistance of normally vibrated concrete mixtures was estimated using a modified abrasion device. Accordingly, 18 specimens were cast. Three various compressive strengths (25, 35, and 55 MPa) were tested at the 7-day and 28-day ages. Furthermore, to improve the abrasion damage of the used apparatus, two paddles with angles of 30 and 60° were used in addition to the original paddle of 45°. The results revealed that for the paddle of 60°, the wearing resistance of concrete was lowered by 11.9 and 49.9% because of the enhancement of the strength from 25 to 35 and 55 MPa at the 28-day age, respectively. Additionally, the lowest abrasive ability of the apparatus was achieved by the use of the standard paddle, while the highest can be achieved by the paddle of 60°.