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About the statistical interpretation of air permeability assessment results

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Abstract

The reinforcement protection provided by a concrete cover of proper thickness and resistant to the penetration of aggressive agents is a key factor for the durability of reinforced concrete structures. The most efficient way to achieve adequate resistance to the penetration of aggressive agents is a performance-based specification of concrete, complemented with a suitable site control of the specified performance. The results from near-surface air permeability tests are presented in this paper, and their correlations with compressive strength, water–cement ratio and carbonation resistance are analyzed using different statistical parameters as representative values of each set of air permeability measurements.

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Abbreviations

A :

Cross-sectional area of the test chamber (m2)

a i :

Individual observation

f c,28 :

Compressive strength at 28 days (MPa)

k carb :

Carbonation coefficient (mm/day1/2)

kT :

Air permeability coefficient (m2)

kT gm :

Geometric mean of air permeability coefficient (m2)

kT lab :

Air permeability coefficient from laboratory test (m2)

kT lim :

Limit of the error bars for the air permeability coefficient (m2)

kT site :

Air permeability coefficient from site test (m2)

L :

Maximum penetration of air permeability test (m)

n :

Number of observations in a sample

p a :

Atmospheric pressure (N m−2)

R 2 :

Determination coefficient

RH:

Relative humidity (%)

t :

Time (day)

t i :

Time at the beginning of air permeability test (s)

t f :

Time at the end of air permeability test (s)

x c :

Carbonation depth (mm)

V c :

Volume of Torrent’s test chamber (m3)

W/C :

Water–cement ratio

Δp :

Pressure raise Torrent’s test chamber (N m−2)

ε:

Concrete porosity

η:

Viscosity of air (N s m−2)

σg :

Standard deviation of air permeability coefficient logarithms (m2)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ESTB-IPS, Polytechnic Institute of Setúbal, R. Américo da Silva Marinho, 2939-001, Barreiro, Portugal

    Rui Neves

  2. DECivil-IST, Technical University of Lisbon, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001, Lisbon, Portugal

    Fernando Branco

  3. Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Instituto Superior Técnico, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001, Lisbon, Portugal

    Jorge de Brito

Authors
  1. Rui Neves
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  2. Fernando Branco
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  3. Jorge de Brito
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jorge de Brito.

Appendix: Individual test results

Appendix: Individual test results

See Tables 8, 9, and 10.

Table 8 Individual kT results in laboratory using cement CEM II/A–L
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Table 9 Individual kT results in laboratory using cement CEM IV/A
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Table 10 Individual kT results on site
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Neves, R., Branco, F. & de Brito, J. About the statistical interpretation of air permeability assessment results. Mater Struct 45, 529–539 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-011-9780-3

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