Effect Of Field Environmental Exposure Conditions On The Properties Of Hardened Concrete

Abstract

The effects of harsh field environmental exposure conditions on compressive, tensile and flexural strengths and durability aspects of concrete such as chloride penetration, sulphate attack and carbonation were investigated for a period of 240 days. The environmental variables studied were control laboratory condition at Qatar University, chloride and sulphate rich ground field condition (Zone A) located 10 Km from Doha City, and below the water table field condition (Zone B) exist at the same selected site. The results indicate that concrete specimens kept at ground field condition (Zone A) exhibit lower compressive, tensile and flexural strength values than both the control laboratory and the below water table field conditions. The loss in strength has been attributed to the cessation of hydration due to drying of the concrete. The strength values of control laboratory condition and below water table field condition (Zone B) were marginally comparable in spite of the considerable difference of chloride, sulphate and carbonation values.