Effect of mixing proportions of concrete on its electrical conductivity and the rapid chloride permeability test (ASTM C1202 or ASSHTO T277) results

The rapid chloride permeability test (RCPT)-American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) test method C1202 or American Association of States Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) test method T277-is virtually a measurement of electrical conductivity of concrete, which depends on both the pore structure characteristics and pore solution chemistry of concrete. This paper discusses the effects of several factors, such as cement composition, replacement of cement with supplementary cementing materials and inclusion of aggregate, on the electrical conductivity or RCPT results of hardened cement mortars and concrete. Analyses based on published results have indicated that all the three factors may have significant effects on the chemistry and specific conductivity of concrete pore solution, which has little to do with the transport of ions in the solution. Thus, RCPT is not a valid test for evaluation of permeability of concretes made with different materials or different proportions. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.