Cavitation resistance of concrete containing different material properties

In the present investigation, influence of various material parameters on the cavitation erosion resistance of concrete was investigated on the basis of laboratory experiments. As there is no wellestablished laboratory test method for evaluating the cavitation resistance of concrete, a test set up called \'cavitation jet\' was specially established in the present study in order to simulate the cavitation phenomenon experienced in the hydraulic structures. Various mixtures of concrete were designed by varying the grade of concrete, type and quantity of pozzolana, type of aggregates and cement type to develop good cavitation resistant concrete constructed using marginal aggregates. Three types of aggregates having three different Los Angeles abrasion values (less than 30%, between 30% and 50% and more than 50%) were employed in this study. To evaluate the cavitation resistance a total of 60 cylindrical specimens and 60 companion cubes were tested in the laboratory respectively. The results indicate that cavitation resistance of concrete degrades significantly as the L.A. abrasion value of aggregates goes beyond the 30% value. Incorporation of pozzolanic admixtures was seemed to be beneficial to enhance the cavitation resistance of concrete. Influence of other material parameters on the cavitation resistance of concrete was also noted and important observations have been made in the paper.