Durability Indicators Comparison for SCC and CC in Tropical Coastal Environments

Area of Science:

• Civil Engineering
• Materials Science
• Durability of Materials

Background:

• Self-compacting concrete (SCC) requires further durability research, especially in harsh environments and at elevated temperatures.
• Comparing SCC durability to conventional vibrated concrete (CC) is crucial for material selection and performance prediction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate and compare the durability indicators of SCC and CC under similar mix design conditions.
• To investigate the microstructural properties influencing the durability of both concrete types.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of electrical resistivity, chloride ion diffusion, and accelerated carbonation.
• Microstructure characterization using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and microtomography.
• Testing conducted in laboratory settings and at a real construction site (Pernambuco Arena).

Main Results:

• SCC demonstrated an 11.4% higher average electrical resistivity than CC.
• SCC exhibited significantly lower average chloride ion diffusion (63.3% of CC).
• SCC showed reduced average accelerated carbonation penetration (45.8% of CC) and open porosity (55.6% of CC).

Conclusions:

• SCC possesses superior durability characteristics compared to CC.
• The findings support the use of SCC in aggressive environments, potentially extending its service life.