Author(s)

D. Bernard, D. chen & N. Burlion

Abstract

Prediction of long term performance and durability of concrete is an essential issue for many practical problems. In various situations, the cement paste is attacked by dissolved elements present in the water surrounding the structure and more or less deeply penetrating it. In this work the consequences of leaching, accelerated by ammonium nitrate, on samples of a standard mortar have been characterised in 3D by X-ray computed microtomography (XCMT). This non-destructive method provides quantitative 3D maps of the sample's X-ray absorption coefficient p. At each voxel (cubic volume element composing the 3D map), the value of p is the average of the absorption coefficients of the different solids and fluids contained into it at the moment of acquisition. Comidered samples are cylinders of 8 mm in diameter a

Keywords