Surface Resistivity Testing for Quality Control of Concrete Mixtures

2018Final, October 2017 \u2013 September 2018PDFTech ReportSPTC 17.1-071-570968 / G10001773AdmixturesDurabilityElectrical resistivityMethodologyMix designQuality assuranceQuality controlWater cement ratioConcreteResistivitySilica FumeBlast Furnace SlagPortland CementUnited StatesSouthern Plains Transportation CenterShults, CodyHartell, Julie AnnOklahoma State University. School of Civil & Environmental EngineeringSouthern Plains Transportation CenterUnited States. Department of Transportation. University Transportation Centers (UTC) ProgramUS Transportation CollectionThe purpose of this study is to investigate the potential of resistivity testing in assessing key mixture design parameters critical for durability performance of concrete mixtures. The methodology proposed will enable the development of a method based on resistivity criteria to identify the water-to-cement ratio of a given mixture whether the mixture contains a certain type of supplementary cementitious material. The objectives of the experimental study are to perform an experimental parametric investigation to determine the time-resistivity behavior of typical concrete mixtures used in pavement and infrastructure construction and determining the efficacy of resistivity testing in differentiating key mixture components. It was found that resistivity testing is sensitive to water-to-cement ratio, with some exceptions, and sensitive to supplementary cementitious replacement. The preliminary results will aid in the development of a new quality control and assurance criteria for concrete mixture approval in addition to currently used test methods and specifications.81