Testing for Concrete Durability

The concrete and concrete aggregates committee of ASTM International has developed a test method aimed at improving and standardizing the way that resistance of concrete to electrical current flow helps assess its durability.

According to ASTM International member R. Douglas Hooton, a professor in the Department of Civil and Mineral Engineering at the University of Toronto, saturated specimens of hardened concrete are tested to see how well they resist electrical currents, which also measures a specific concrete's ability to resist aggressive fluids, since both depend on its pore size and porosity.
 
"Various forms of this test method are already used in the United States and globally, but differences in sample conditioning and testing details cause different results," says Hooton. "Therefore, having this standard will help users obtain reproducible results."
 
The committee welcomes participation by industry professionals as they will next be addressing potential changes to allow for alternate versions to verification procedures as well as further development of an appendix (for calculating a formation factor).

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