Correlation of Rheological Properties to Durability and Strength of Hardened Concrete

Premature deterioration of concrete structures has created awareness and concern about the durability of concrete. Concrete mixtures used in the construction of residential basement walls and foundations have a high water to cement (w/c) ratio (w/c>0.6) and low cement content (<280 kg/m³). The result is friable concrete with a highly porous surface layer and high potential for cracking. The defects have a direct impact on the durability of concrete. This experimental study examines the effects of three parameters—mix design, formwork, and consolidation—on the quality of the surface of high w/c concrete. The fresh concrete is characterized using its rheological properties—in particular, its yield stress and plastic viscosity. Pulse velocity, pull-off strength, and compressive strength were measured to evaluate the quality and the mechanical properties of the hardened concrete. The durability of the hardened concrete was evaluated by measuring its surface transport properties—namely, its air permeability and sorptivity. The results show that it is possible to correlate the rheological properties of fresh concrete to the mechanical and permeation properties of the hardened concrete.