Concrete durability hinges significantly on how moisture interacts with and travels within the material over extended periods. In this thesis, we delve into the prediction of moisture states and moisture transport, aiming to develop a numerical simulation model capable of estimating Relative Humidity (RH) in concrete samples featuring a water-cement ratio ranging from 0.35 to 0.5. Our focus extends beyond the short term, allowing us to assess the impact of moisture content over prolonged durations. The proper estimation of Relative Humidity emerges as a pivotal parameter, serving as a key indicator of potential issues related to mould growth and microbial activity. This project involve a two-part study, an experimental setup and development of a numerical simulation model, The core objective of our study lies in the development of a Finite Element (F.E) numerical simulation model, a valuable tool offering conservative predictions of moisture content expressed as internal relative humidity. By adopting this model, we gain insights into how RH fluctuates within the concrete matrix, providing a comprehensive understanding of moisture behaviour. A control experiment was set up with 18 concrete samples with three different concrete recipes across three boundary condition systems and monitored across an 8-month period. The experimental results were used to calibrate the moisture parameters in the simulation model. The developed model emerges as a robust tool, demonstrating its proficiency in accurately predicting the moisture transport and prediction of internal relative humidity within concrete over extended durations. Further, the findings illuminate the key parameter required to properly estimate RH levels in concrete over durations. The simulation model can be further improved to be used across a wider range of concrete recipes as well as practical applications in the mould and microbial growth predications.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:lnu-128625 |
| Date | January 2024 |
| Creators | Azizian, Dawod, Frimpong, Kelvin |
| Publisher | Linnéuniversitetet, Institutionen för byggteknik (BY) |
| Source Sets | DiVA Archive at Upsalla University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Student thesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis, text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
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