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SUMMERY
1 INTRODUCTION
Resulting from their high density, high-strength concretes differ from normal
strength concretes in a higher durability, e.g. a high frost de-icing resistance and a
high resistance to chemical substances. Some unusual observations on HSC’s
were made since the development and practical utilization of HSC which caused
objections regarding the durability. Tests on building members produced of HSC
showed, that a decrease of the compressive strength and a formation of mi-
crocracks can occur gradually. This happened primarily when concretes were
exposed to high temperatures during the hydration such as inside building mem-
bers. It was also observed that their resistance to freeze de-icing cycles can be
considerably lower than expected [1-4].
The guideline of the DAfStb (German Committee for Reinforced Concrete) [5]
reflects these problems: The utilization of concretes with a strength class higher
1
Dipl.-Ing., Institut für Massivbau und Baustofftechnologie, University of Leipzig
2
Dipl.-Ing., F. A.-Finger Institut für Baustoffkunde, Bauhaus-University of Weimar
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LACER No. 3, 1998
than B 95 for exterior building members and the use of superplasticisers is lim-
ited.
Causes of the peculiarities of HSC’s and the risk of a possible microcrack forma-
tion mechanism are conceivable – e.g. the entering of moisture into building
components owing to capillary suction - which induce or intensify building dam-
age:
• Temporary temperatures up to 70 °C inside the structural component owing to
fast heat development during the hydration [6, 7]
• Stronger formation of monosulphate/AFm,
• At the same time entering of more water e.g. through cracks, makes the
chemical reaction Monosulphate/AFm → Ettringite/AFt possible (the
volume growing 2,3 times)
• Incomplete hydration connected with “inside drying-out” owing to extreme
low w-c ratios
• At the same time entering of more water, e.g. through microcracks makes
the swelling of the cement gel and the formation of new phases possible
being the reason for a considerable volume growing (e.g. C3A, C4AF,
C3AH6, Monosulphate/AFm → Ettringite/AFt).
• No capillary pores content, dense mortar matrix
• At the same time entering of more water e.g. through microcracks space
for expansion there is no for especially:
• De-icing water at freezing under hydrostatic pressure (volume growing
connected with blast effects)
• Development of new phases under imposed deformation (microcracks
into the concrete structure or flakings can occur)
A reduced durability of HSC’s cannot be excluded as mentioned above. Further-
more, unfavourable additional effects caused by high superplasticizer content (up
to 70 g/ml per kg cement) can occur depending on the moment of adding.
Our investigations shall clarify, whether and in which extent a reduced durability
must be expected, what is causing this and by which practical steps the risks can
be counteracted.
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High Strength Concrete - Durability Investigations
by Using the CDF-Test - First Results
2 GENERAL ASPECTS
In our research project the influence of the typical properties the production of
HSC, like:
• extremely low w-c-ratio
• high content of superplasticizer at different times
• suffering high temperatures during the hydration
on the hydration process and on the strength development, especially on the
FDSR (CDF-test method), shall be investigated.
Additionally, the arrangement of the concrete structure as well as possible modi-
fications of the structure will be observed before and after different kinds of cur-
ing and after the CDF-test (ultrasonic). To get a wide spectrum of various
parameters influencing the concrete properties the concrete compositions indi-
cated in table 2 were selected. For comparison, the mixtures will be produced
with two cements with different sulphate resistance: CEM I 42,5 R and CEM I
42,5 HS (sulphate resistance, DIN 1164, tab. 1). The HS-cement showed after 28
days of hydration – that is before the frost de-icing salt test – slightly more AFm
phases than the ordinary Portland cement containing more C3A.
The concretes have w-c-ratios of 0,40 (no superplasticizer) and of 0,25 (5 M-% of
superplasticizer). The used superplasticizer (FM) is a mixture of melamine and
naphthalinsulphonic resin.
Depending on the concrete mixture microsilica (MS) was used (content: 0 and
10 M-%, tab. 2) in the form of a slurry with 50 M-% solid content.
As aggregates we use sand (0/2) from the river Main and gravel (2/8; 8/16) from
the river Rhine.
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LACER No. 3, 1998
60
High Strength Concrete - Durability Investigations
by Using the CDF-Test - First Results
The consistencies of the concretes of series III (2 min. compacted, too) were also
unsatisfactory. The aim of these series was to test concretes with a w-c-ratio of
0,25 concerning their utilization as ready mixed concrete. We had planned to
investigate the hydration by delayed FM addition. It was the intention to add
3 M-% at the beginning of the mixing process and the second dose after 45 min.
(time of transport!). Between the beginning and 45 min the mixer should work
periodically (5 min.) 1 min. each.
However, the tests did not show the expected results because the consistencies of
the mixtures with only 3 M-% were so sticky, except for mixture III/I, that we
feared an early development of solidification. Therefore 4 M-% or 5 M-% FM
had to be added at the beginning of mixing, already. The slumps of the compara-
ble mixtures of series II, however, (see tab. 3) were not achieved also after 45
min. On the other hand the slumps of mixture III and IV from series III (10 M-%
silica) showed improved results.
The compressive strength tests according to DIN 1048 were carried out after 7 d,
28 d, 56 d and 182 d to estimate the strength development over a longer period.
The specimens were moist-cured in accordance with ENV206.
Table 2: Slumps and development of compressive strength
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LACER No. 3, 1998
90
CEM I 42.5 HS, 10 M-% silica
85
[N/mm²]
75
w200
CEMI 42.5 HS
CEM I 42.5 R
Compressive strength ß
70
65
60
55
50
45
40
0 7 28 182
Concrete age [d]
62
Table 3: Survey of concretes and the different kinds of curing and test methods
120
CEM I 42.5 R
110
Compressive stregth ßw200 [N/mm²]
CEMI 42.5 HS
100
90
CEM I 42.5 R, 10 M-% silica
80
60
50
40
0 7 28 56 182
Concrete age [d]
80
CEM I 42.5 R
70
60
50
40
0 7 28 56 182
Fig. 3: Compressive strengths ßw.200 of series III, w/z = 0,25; 5 M-% FM delayed
65
LACER No. 3, 1998
3.2 The frost de-icing salt resistance of the investigated high strength
concrete
Our investigations base on different questions. On the one hand the influence of
the concrete composition (w/c = 0,4 or 0,25; FM contents = 0 or 5 M-%; silica
contents = 0 or 10 M-%, comp. tab. 2) on the FDSR shall be analysed. On the
other hand the influence of the cement composition itself shall be investigated.
The CDF-Test according to SETZER [8] was carried out on specimens
150x150x75 mm3. All specimens of series I – III were exposed to 28 freeze de-
icing cycles, one cycle takes in any case 12 h.
The first FDSR investigations (tab. 2) produced the expected results. HSC with
w/c ≤ 0,4 shows a high or very high FDSR. The very dense structure of these
concretes prevents the increase of mass by capillary suction of the 3 %-NaCl-
solution. The amount of the increasing mass was always below 0,35 M-% (tab. 4;
compared with normal concrete: 0,8 – 1,5 M-%). Especially the concretes with
w/c = 0,25 have a very small mass increase: 0,07 ≤ ∆m ≤ 0,12 M-% (tab. 4).
The results correspond to the CDF–tests: the rates of scaling of concretes with
w/c = 0,4 (28 cycles: 188 – 603 g/m²) are higher than the rates of scaling with
w/c = 0,25 (28 cycles: 51 – 104 g/m²).
As expected silica containing specimens (concretes III and IV) have lower rates
of scaling than specimens without silica (concrete I and II, tab. 4, fig. 4-6). This
points to a denser paste matrix by the “filling effect” caused by silica [9].
An influence of the cement quality on the results can be recognised on concretes
of series I (w/c = 0,4, tab. 4, fig. 4). Concretes produced with CEM I 42,5 HS
yield significant higher rates of scaling (compare 28 cycles, tab. 4) than those
with CEM I 42,5 R. This tendency was also observed in earlier investigations
[10]. Furthermore, the two cement qualities lead to a different formation of the
concrete structure. This connection has to be considered, too.
Compared with that, the concretes of series II and III (w/c = 0,25) have smaller
differences between the rates of scaling with respect to R- and HS-cements. Here,
these small differences correspond with the results of pore radii distribution
(PRV) of the mortar matrix, because the concretes produced with R- and HS-
cements show a nearly identical PRV.
It is known, that CEM I 42,5 R , with w/c ≥ 0,4, shows a higher content of capil-
lary pores and a lower content of gel pores as well as microairpores than the HS-
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High Strength Concrete - Durability Investigations
by Using the CDF-Test - First Results
The measured rates of scaling (after 28 cycles) of all series meet the acceptance
criterion of 1500 g/m².
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LACER No. 3, 1998
1000
900
CEMI 42.5 HS
800
700
CEM I 42.5 R
600
500
400
CEM I 42.5 HS, 10 M-% silica
300
200
100
CEM I 42.5 R, 10 M-% silica
0
0 8 14 28
Number of freezing and thawing cycles
CEMI 42.5 HS
100
80
Scaling [g/m²]
CEM I 42.5 R
60 CEM I 42.5 HS, 10 M-% silica
40
0
0 4 8 14 28
Number of freezing and thawing cycles
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High Strength Concrete - Durability Investigations
by Using the CDF-Test - First Results
Frost de-icing salt resistance (CDF-test) w/c = 0,25; FM split (series III)
100
CEM I 42.5 R
80
CEMI 42.5 HS
60
0
0 4 8 14 28
Num ber of freezing and thawing cycles
All specimens (150x150x75 mm3) of the series I – III (tab. 2) were tested by
ultrasonic before and after the CDF-Test. The aim of these investigations was to
get an information about possible damage inside the concretes structure or modi-
fications underneath the concrete surface.
To guarantee the required sensitivity high frequency testing heads (eigenfre-
quency in any case 250 kHz) were used. By a broad band receiver the sound
signal is detected. Afterwards, the detected vibration signal is digitalized and
evaluated by a transient recorder. The sound signal is generated by an ultrasonic
generator of the company GEOTRON-ELEKTRONIC. The specimens are cou-
pled to the sound converters in a special measuring device. Thus, an adjustment
of a reproducible coupling pressure is possible. Clay was used for coupling. The
position of the sound converter during the measuring is shown in figure 7.
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LACER No. 3, 1998
Ultrasonic generator
Transmitter
B
Scaled
surface Specimen A A
B
Receiver
Transient recorder
The sound converters are coupled to the specimens as shown in figure 7 (both
positions A – A and B – B). So, exact localisation of occurring damage near the
surface or inside the concrete structure is possible.
Figure 8 shows the differences between the measured sound velocities before and
after the CDF-test. At the series I (w/c = 0,4) the sound velocities are lower than
the sound velocities of specimens of the series II and III (w/c = 0,25).
The measured sound velocities after the 28 freeze de-icing-cycles are slightly
higher than the sound velocities before the CDF-test, except concretes I/II and
II/I. This fact may be caused by the crystallization of NaCl during the drying of
the specimens after the CDF-test.
The obtained differences of sound velocities of ≤ 50 m/s can be neglected due to
low water penetration.
Consistent damage of the material structure could not be observed.
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High Strength Concrete - Durability Investigations
by Using the CDF-Test - First Results
5100
5000
4900
Sound velocity [m/s]
4800
4700
4600
4500
4400
I/II I/III I/IV II/I II/II II/III II/IV III/I III/II III/III III/IV
4 FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS
REFERENCES
[1] Guse, U.; Hilsdorf, H.: Zum Frost- und Frost- Tausalz- Widerstand
hochfester Betone. Wissenschaftliche Zeitschrift der HAB Weimar 40,
1994
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