Abstract
The existing service-life prediction models rarely account for the effect of cracks on mass transport and durability of concrete. To correct this deficiency, transport in fractured porous media must be studied. The objective of this paper is to quantify the water permeability of localized cracks as a function of crack geometry (i.e., width, tortuosity, and surface roughness). Plain and fiber-reinforced mortar disk specimens were cracked by splitting tension; and the crack profile was digitized by image analysis and translated into crack geometric properties. Crack permeability was measured using a Darcian flow-thru cell. The results show that permeability is a function of crack width square. Crack tortuosity and roughness reduce the permeability by a factor of 4 to 6 below what is predicted by the theory for smooth parallel plate cracks. Although tortuosity and roughness exhibit fractal behavior, their proper measurement is possible and results in correct estimation of crack permeability.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 313-320 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Cement and Concrete Research |
| Volume | 42 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Feb 1 2012 |
Fingerprint
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Building and Construction
- Materials Science(all)
Cite this
}
Quantifying the effects of crack width, tortuosity, and roughness on water permeability of cracked mortars. / Akhavan, Alireza; Shafaatian, Seyed Mohammad Hadi; Rajabipour, Farshad.
In: Cement and Concrete Research, Vol. 42, No. 2, 01.02.2012, p. 313-320.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Quantifying the effects of crack width, tortuosity, and roughness on water permeability of cracked mortars
AU - Akhavan, Alireza
AU - Shafaatian, Seyed Mohammad Hadi
AU - Rajabipour, Farshad
PY - 2012/2/1
Y1 - 2012/2/1
N2 - The existing service-life prediction models rarely account for the effect of cracks on mass transport and durability of concrete. To correct this deficiency, transport in fractured porous media must be studied. The objective of this paper is to quantify the water permeability of localized cracks as a function of crack geometry (i.e., width, tortuosity, and surface roughness). Plain and fiber-reinforced mortar disk specimens were cracked by splitting tension; and the crack profile was digitized by image analysis and translated into crack geometric properties. Crack permeability was measured using a Darcian flow-thru cell. The results show that permeability is a function of crack width square. Crack tortuosity and roughness reduce the permeability by a factor of 4 to 6 below what is predicted by the theory for smooth parallel plate cracks. Although tortuosity and roughness exhibit fractal behavior, their proper measurement is possible and results in correct estimation of crack permeability.
AB - The existing service-life prediction models rarely account for the effect of cracks on mass transport and durability of concrete. To correct this deficiency, transport in fractured porous media must be studied. The objective of this paper is to quantify the water permeability of localized cracks as a function of crack geometry (i.e., width, tortuosity, and surface roughness). Plain and fiber-reinforced mortar disk specimens were cracked by splitting tension; and the crack profile was digitized by image analysis and translated into crack geometric properties. Crack permeability was measured using a Darcian flow-thru cell. The results show that permeability is a function of crack width square. Crack tortuosity and roughness reduce the permeability by a factor of 4 to 6 below what is predicted by the theory for smooth parallel plate cracks. Although tortuosity and roughness exhibit fractal behavior, their proper measurement is possible and results in correct estimation of crack permeability.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84856320514&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84856320514&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.cemconres.2011.10.002
DO - 10.1016/j.cemconres.2011.10.002
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84856320514
VL - 42
SP - 313
EP - 320
JO - Cement and Concrete Research
JF - Cement and Concrete Research
SN - 0008-8846
IS - 2
ER -