Assessment of transport properties of cementitious materials

ABSTRACT In this paper, the liquid water permeability has been investigated by various methods in laboratory conditions. A comparison has been performed between the “intrinsic” permeabilities thus obtained. The values have also been compared to the results obtained from gas permeability measurement. The results point out that the concept of intrinsic permeability, independent of the permeating fluid, is not relevant for cementitious materials, when liquid water is regarded, except maybe for highly permeable ones. The various physicochemical processes likely to occur during the tests can explain the significant differences observed. The apparent chloride diffusion coefficient has been assessed by means of diffusion and electrical migration tests. The differences recorded have been discussed. They can be explained in particular by the various microstructural changes that occur during these two types of tests, as illustrated by MIP and 29Si NMR results.