BS1881-208 1996
BS1881-208 1996
BS1881-208 1996
Testing concrete —
Part 208: Recommendations for the
determination of the initial surface
absorption of concrete
Licensed Copy: Giorgio Cavalieri, ALSTOM, 13-Mar-01, Uncontrolled Copy. © BSI
ICS 91.100.30
BS 1881-208:1996
Contents
Page
Committees responsible Inside front cover
Foreword ii
1 Scope 1
2 References 1
3 Definitions 1
4 Applications 1
5 Factors influencing the initial surface absorption of concrete 2
6 Apparatus 2
Licensed Copy: Giorgio Cavalieri, ALSTOM, 13-Mar-01, Uncontrolled Copy. © BSI
7 Calibration of apparatus 5
8 Procedure 5
9 Factors affecting test results 7
10 Precision 7
11 Test report 7
Figure 1 — Assembly of typical absorption apparatus 3
Figure 2 — Typical cap suitable for clamping onto a smooth
horizontal surface 4
Figure 3 — Typical cap suitable for use on a vertical surface 4
Table 1 — Determination of period of movement 6
Table 2 — Correction factors to convert readings to an
equivalent value at 20 °C 7
List of references Inside back cover
© BSI 12-1998 i
BS 1881-208:1996
Foreword
Summary of pages
This document comprises a front cover, an inside front cover, pages i and ii,
pages 1 to 8, an inside back cover and a back cover.
This standard has been updated (see copyright date) and may have had
amendments incorporated. This will be indicated in the amendment table on the
inside front cover.
ii © BSI 12-1998
BS 1881-208:1996
1 Scope 4 Applications
This Part of BS 1881 gives recommendations for a 4.1 General
method of determining the initial surface absorption This test method provides data for assessing the
of oven dried concrete, of concrete in the laboratory uniaxial water penetration characteristics of a
which cannot be oven dried and of site concrete. concrete surface. The applied pressure of 200 mm
Recommendations are given on areas of application head of water is worse than the severest weather
of this method and the interpretation of results. exposure in the UK due to driving rain. The results
may be considered to be related to the quality of
2 References finish and to the durability of the surface under the
Licensed Copy: Giorgio Cavalieri, ALSTOM, 13-Mar-01, Uncontrolled Copy. © BSI
1)
Permeability testing of site concrete — A review of methods and experience. Concrete Society Technical Report 31
2)
Levitt.M. The ISAT for limit state design for durability. Concrete. Vol 19, No.7, p 29. July 1985.
© BSI 12-1998 1
BS 1881-208:1996
2 © BSI 12-1998
3 Licensed Copy: Giorgio Cavalieri, ALSTOM, 13-Mar-01, Uncontrolled Copy. © BSI
© BSI 12-1998
BS 1881-208:1996
BS 1881-208:1996
4 © BSI 12-1998
BS 1881-208:1996
Measure the length of the capillary tube (6.5) and marked off with at least 180 divisions,
record it to the nearest millimetre. Flush the tube spaced 6 × 10– 4 A1/A2 mm apart. Each such division
through with soap solution, followed by at will then represent 0.01 units of ml/(m2.s).
least 25 ml of distilled or de-ionized water. Clamp
the tube horizontally and connect it to the 8 Procedure
reservoir (6.4) by means of the flexible tube (6.3.1)
fitted with a tap. Fix the reservoir such that a head 8.1 Selection and recommended preparation
of water of (200 ± 5) mm is maintained during the of specimens
course of the calibration. 8.1.1 Number of specimens
Close the tap and fill the reservoir with distilled or Test at least three separate specimens or locations
de-ionized water to the specified level. Determine selected to be representative of the concrete under
the temperature of the water using the examination and suitable for test with the cap and
thermometer (6.9) and ensure that this is clamping system to be used. Areas exhibiting
within 1 °C of ambient. Open the tap and, when a surface cracking should normally be avoided. Mould
steady discharge occurs, place the measuring oil or curing membranes may affect the results as
cylinder (6.8) under the open end and begin to can the procedures needed to remove them.
collect the water. Record in seconds the time
8.1.2 Oven dried specimens
required to collect 10 ml of water.
Dry the specimen in the oven (6.10) at (105 ± 5) °C
Repeat this procedure twice more and calculate the
until constant mass is achieved, i.e. not more
mean of the three times.
than 0.1 % weight change over any 24 h drying
Calculate the bore radius of the capillary tube, r, in period. When the specimen has reached constant
millimetres, from the following equation: mass, place it in the cooling cabinet (6.11) and allow
4 KL the temperature in the cabinet to fall to within 2 °C
r = --------
t of that of the room. Leave each specimen in the
cabinet until required for testing. Concrete made
where
with high alumina cement should not be conditioned
by oven drying.
L is the length of the capillary tube
8.1.3 Non-oven dried specimens
(in millimetres);
8.1.3.1 Conditioning for laboratory testing
t is the mean time to collect 10 ml of water
(in seconds); Allow the concrete unit or specimen to remain in the
laboratory for a minimum period of 48 h at a
K is a coefficient incorporating the viscosity of temperature of (20 ± 2) °C before testing.
water and the geometry of the apparatus
obtained from the values below using linear 8.1.3.2 Conditions for site testing
interpolation between adjacent values. Protect the surface to be tested from water for a
period of at least 48 h prior to the test. Do not allow
contact between the protective material and the
Water 10 15 20 25 30 surface to be tested. Protect the surface from direct
temperature sunlight for at least 12 h prior to and during the
(°C): test.
Factor K: 0.0167 0.0145 0.0128 0.0 114 0.0100 8.2 Fixing the cap
Slightly grease the gasket where it is made of a solid
elastomer. Foamed elastomeric gaskets may or may
not need greasing.
© BSI 12-1998 5
BS 1881-208:1996
In the case of knife edged caps, form a seal round the 8.6 Readings
outside of the cap to prevent any loss of water from Take readings normally after the following intervals
under the knife edge. A variety of materials can be from the start of the test:
used, and should be firmly applied to the concrete
and the edges of the cap to build a wall capable of — 10 min;
withstanding the water pressure. One of the best — 30 min; and
materials is modelling clay into which enough — 1 h.
grease can be kneaded to enable it to “wet” glass or As the test proceeds, the moisture content of the
metal. The colour may be selected to match the concrete will increase and capillary pores within the
6 © BSI 12-1998
BS 1881-208:1996
If the reading taken 10 min after the start of the test 9.5 Temperature of the concrete
is below 0.05 ml/(m2.s), stop the test and record the Major variations in the surface temperature of the
result with the comment “concrete too impermeable concrete, from the 20 °C value for which the
to be sensitive to a longer term test”. Similarly, equipment has been calibrated, are likely to
where the 10 min reading is above 3.60 ml/(m2.s), influence results significantly owing to changes in
stop the test and record the result with the comment viscosity of the water. The correction factors given
concrete too permeable to be within the sensitivity in Table 2 should be used to convert site results to
of the test method. an equivalent 20 °C value.
Between test intervals leave the tap open and Table 2 — Correction factors to convert
maintain the level of the water in the reservoir at
Licensed Copy: Giorgio Cavalieri, ALSTOM, 13-Mar-01, Uncontrolled Copy. © BSI
© BSI 12-1998 7
Licensed Copy: Giorgio Cavalieri, ALSTOM, 13-Mar-01, Uncontrolled Copy. © BSI
blank
8
BS 1881-208:1996
Normative references
BSI publications
BRITISH STANDARDS INSTITUTION, London
BS 1881-201:1990, Guide to the use of non-destructive methods of test for hardened concrete3).
BS 6100, Glossary of building and civil engineering terms.
BS 6100-6, Concrete and plaster.
BS 6100-6.2:1986, Concrete.
Other publications
“Permeability testing of site concrete — A review of methods and experience”. Concrete Society Report, 1988.
© BSI 12-1998
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