Abstract
Effective assessment of reinforced concrete durability necessitates monitoring of concrete performance using straightforward yet robust technique over an extended period of time. This study investigates six low-carbon concrete mixes incorporating up to 70% Portland cement replacement using binary and ternary combinations of ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS), fly ash (FA), and limestone powder (LP). Electrical resistivity measurements were undertaken over a 360-day period and used to derive formation factors and instantaneous diffusion coefficients, offering insight into the evolving pore structure and ionic transport. The results showed that all mixes exhibited a progressive increase in resistivity, indicative of continued hydration and microstructural refinement. The binary FA mix achieved the highest resistivity and formation factor, attributed to its pozzolanic activity, while the PC reference mix exhibited the lowest. Ternary blends of GGBS and FA demonstrated synergistic effects, whereas LP-containing mixes showed limited refinement over a long term, indicating LP’s contribution is primarily physical. It is shown that Formation Factors and instantaneous diffusion coefficients derived from resistivity data provide a means of ranking concrete durability without reliance on extended exposure testing. It is also shown that all low-carbon mixes outperformed the reference PC mix, confirming the effectiveness of SCMs in enhancing resistance to ionic ingress and supporting their use in achieving long-term durability within sustainable construction.
Keywords
low-carbon concrete, ternary, limestone powder, resistivity, formation factor, diffusion coefficient
DOI
10.5703/1288284318118
Recommended Citation
Imitini, Elo Merit; Suryanto, Benny; and Gupta, Bhaskar Sen, "Durability Assessment of Low-Carbon Concrete using Electrical Resistivity and Derived Transport Parameters" (2025). International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures. 11.
https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/icdcs/2025/tmc/11
Durability Assessment of Low-Carbon Concrete using Electrical Resistivity and Derived Transport Parameters
Effective assessment of reinforced concrete durability necessitates monitoring of concrete performance using straightforward yet robust technique over an extended period of time. This study investigates six low-carbon concrete mixes incorporating up to 70% Portland cement replacement using binary and ternary combinations of ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS), fly ash (FA), and limestone powder (LP). Electrical resistivity measurements were undertaken over a 360-day period and used to derive formation factors and instantaneous diffusion coefficients, offering insight into the evolving pore structure and ionic transport. The results showed that all mixes exhibited a progressive increase in resistivity, indicative of continued hydration and microstructural refinement. The binary FA mix achieved the highest resistivity and formation factor, attributed to its pozzolanic activity, while the PC reference mix exhibited the lowest. Ternary blends of GGBS and FA demonstrated synergistic effects, whereas LP-containing mixes showed limited refinement over a long term, indicating LP’s contribution is primarily physical. It is shown that Formation Factors and instantaneous diffusion coefficients derived from resistivity data provide a means of ranking concrete durability without reliance on extended exposure testing. It is also shown that all low-carbon mixes outperformed the reference PC mix, confirming the effectiveness of SCMs in enhancing resistance to ionic ingress and supporting their use in achieving long-term durability within sustainable construction.
