A mathematical model in charactering chloride diffusivity in unsaturated cementitious material

Conference paper (2017)

Authors

Y. Zhang Materials and Environment - CEG
G. Ye Materials and Environment - CEG
Research Group
Steel & Composite Structures (CEG) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2017 Y. Zhang, G. Ye
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Published Date

2017

Language

English

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Faculty

Civil Engineering & Geosciences

Department

Engineering Structures

Research Group

Steel & Composite Structures

Abstract

In this paper, a new analytic model for predicting chloride diffusivity in unsaturated cementitious materials is developed based on conductivity theory and Nernst-Einstein equation. The model specifies that chloride diffusivity in unsaturated cementitious materials can be mathematically described as a function of chloride diffusivity in saturated state, water saturation and average pore diameter of the material. A series of experiments were conducted in order to validate the model. Mortar samples with varying cementitious mixtures were cast and cured for one year, followed by oven drying at 50 °C until desired water saturation levels (18 to 100 %) and homogeneous moisture distribution were obtained. The electrical conductivities of mortar specimens at various water saturations were measured and then converted into chloride diffusivities by using Nernst-Einstein equation. It is found that the experimental results can be well described by the analytic model proposed in this work.