Experimental study of the evolution of heat and moisture transfer parameters of a concrete slab

After casting, concrete slab upper surfaces are seldom protected. Therefore, depending on the distance to the surface, water distributes itself differently between hydration and drying. The effect of this is the appearance of gradients for the parameters characterising heat and moisture transfers within such porous media. In the present paper, after a possible modelling and a specific metrology of these transfers are evoked, the experiment conducted to reveal and examine the evolution of these gradients with time is discussed. Some divergences (already mentioned in the literature) appear as regards moisture diffusivity depending whether a static or a dynamic approach is chosen. Lastly, experimental results, in particular those concerning heat transfers, could contribute to the feeding of a data bank for the use of future modelling.