Water Transport Properties and Depth of Chloride Penetration in Ultra High Performance Concrete

Abstract

Properties of water transport and depth of chloride penetration into the Ultra High Performance Concrete (hereafter as UHPC) with mild steel fibres are presented in this paper. The main aim of this experimental part of work is to obtain sufficiently accurate input data for the evaluation of long-term durability of architectural concrete which are connected with water transport and its accompanying effects such as biological degradation or chloride transport. The article also presents the one dimensional chloride diffusion into UHPC which can be potentially dangerous particularly for durability of reinforced concrete structures. For the simulation of aggressive environments the concrete samples were exposed to chloride solution for one year. Measured data were examined in relation to the depth of penetration of chloride ions into the UHPC structure. Comparative measurements with normal strength concrete (hereafter as NSC) are done as well. An about five-time lower value of moisture absorption of UHPC compared to the NSC was observed and further the curve of chloride penetration into the structure is significantly steeper for UHPC samples.