This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles

for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

Designation: C1585 − 20

Standard Test Method for

Measurement of Rate of Absorption of Water by Hydraulic-
Cement Concretes1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C1585; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope* C31/C31M Practice for Making and Curing Concrete Test

1.1 This test method is used to determine the rate of Specimens in the Field
absorption (sorptivity) of water by hydraulic cement concrete C42/C42M Test Method for Obtaining and Testing Drilled
by measuring the increase in the mass of a specimen resulting Cores and Sawed Beams of Concrete
from absorption of water as a function of time when only one C125 Terminology Relating to Concrete and Concrete Ag-
surface of the specimen is exposed to water. The specimen is gregates
conditioned in an environment at a standard relative humidity C192/C192M Practice for Making and Curing Concrete Test
to induce a consistent moisture condition in the capillary pore Specimens in the Laboratory
system. The exposed surface of the specimen is immersed in C642 Test Method for Density, Absorption, and Voids in
water and water ingress of unsaturated concrete is dominated Hardened Concrete
by capillary suction during initial contact with water. C1005 Specification for Reference Masses and Devices for
Determining Mass and Volume for Use in the Physical
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as Testing of Hydraulic Cements
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this C1202 Test Method for Electrical Indication of Concrete’s
standard. Ability to Resist Chloride Ion Penetration
1.3 The text of this standard refers to notes and footnotes
3. Terminology
that provide explanatory material. These notes and footnotes
(excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be considered 3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this
as requirements of the standard. standard, refer to Terminology C125.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the 4. Significance and Use
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
4.1 The performance of concrete subjected to many aggres-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
sive environments is a function, to a large extent, of the
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
penetrability of the pore system. In unsaturated concrete, the
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
rate of ingress of water or other liquids is largely controlled by
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
absorption due to capillary rise. This test method is based on
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
that developed by Hall3 who called the phenomenon “water
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
sorptivity.”
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical 4.2 The water absorption of a concrete surface depends on
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee. many factors including: (a) concrete mixture proportions; (b)
the presence of chemical admixtures and supplementary ce-
2. Referenced Documents mentitious materials; (c) the composition and physical charac-
2.1 ASTM Standards:2 teristics of the cementitious component and of the aggregates;
(d) the entrained air content; (e) the type and duration of
curing; (f) the degree of hydration or age; (g) the presence of
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C09 on microcracks; (h) the presence of surface treatments such as
Concrete and Concrete Aggregates and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
C09.66 on Concrete’s Resistance to Fluid Penetration.
sealers or form oil; and (i) placement method including
Current edition approved Sept. 1, 2020. Published September 2020. Originally consolidation and finishing. Water absorption is also strongly
approved in 2004. Last previous edition approved in 2013 as C1585 – 13. DOI: affected by the moisture condition of the concrete at the time of
10.1520/C1585-20. testing.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
3
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Hall, C., “Water Sorptivity of Mortars and Concretes: A Review,” Magazine of
the ASTM website. Concrete Research, Vol 41, No. 147, June 1989, pp. 51–61.

*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard

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 C1585 − 20
4.3 This method is intended to determine the susceptibility 5.9 Caliper, to measure the specimen dimensions to the
of an unsaturated concrete to the penetration of water. In nearest 0.1 mm.
general, the rate of absorption of concrete at the surface differs
from the rate of absorption of a sample taken from the interior. 6. Reagents and Materials
The exterior surface is often subjected to less than intended 6.1 Potassium Bromide, Reagent Grade, required if the
curing and is exposed to the most potentially adverse condi- oven and desiccator system described in 5.7 is used.
tions. This test method is used to measure the water absorption 6.2 Sealing Material, strips of low permeability adhesive
rate of both the concrete surface and interior concrete. By sheets, epoxy paint, vinyl electrician’s tape, duct tape, or
drilling a core and cutting it transversely at selected depths, the aluminium tape. The material shall not require a curing time
absorption can be evaluated at different distances from the longer than 10 minutes.
exposed surface. The core is drilled vertically or horizontally.
6.3 Plastic Bag or Sheeting, any plastic bag or sheeting that
4.4 This test method differs from Test Method C642 in could be attached to the specimen to control evaporation from
which the specimens are oven dried, immersed completely in the surface not exposed to water. An elastic band is required to
water at 21°C, and then boiled under water for 5 h. In this test keep the bag or sheeting in place during the measurements.
method, only one surface is exposed to water at room tempera-
ture while the other surfaces are sealed simulating water 7. Test Specimens
absorption in a member that is in contact with water on one 7.1 The standard test specimen is a 100 6 6 mm diameter
side only. Test Method C642, on the other hand, is used to disc, with a length of 50 6 3 mm. Specimens are obtained from
estimate the maximum amount of water that can be absorbed either molded cylinders according to Practices C31/C31M or
by a dry specimen and therefore provides a measure of the C192/C192M or drilled cores according to Test Method C42/
total, water permeable pore space. C42M. The cross sectional area of a specimen shall not vary
more than 1 % from the top to the bottom of the specimen.
5. Apparatus When cores are taken, they should be marked (see Note 1) so
5.1 Pan, a watertight polyethylene or other corrosion- that the surface to be tested relative to the original location in
resistant pan large enough to accommodate the test specimens the structure is clearly indicated.
with the surfaces to be tested exposed to water. NOTE 1—The surface to be exposed during testing shall not be marked
or otherwise disturbed in such a manner as may modify the absorption rate
5.2 Support Device, rods, pins, or other devices, which are of the specimen.
made of materials resistant to corrosion by water or alkaline 7.2 The average test results on at least 2 specimens (Note 2)
solutions, and which allow free access of water to the exposed shall constitute the test result. The test surfaces shall be at the
surface of the specimen during testing. Alternatively, the same distance from the original exposed surface of the con-
specimens can be supported on several layers of blotting paper crete.
or filter papers with a total thickness of at least 1 mm. NOTE 2—Concrete is not a homogeneous material. Also, an exterior
5.3 Top-pan Balance, complying with Specification C1005 surface of a concrete specimen seldom has the same porosity as the
interior concrete. Therefore, replicate measurements are taken on speci-
and with sufficient capacity for the test specimens and accurate mens from the same depth to reduce the scatter of the data.
to at least 60.01 g.
8. Sample Conditioning
5.4 Timing Device, stop watch or other suitable timing
device accurate to 61 s. 8.1 Before conditioning drilled core specimens obtained
from the field, first saturate them in accordance with the
5.5 Paper Towel or Cloth, for wiping excess water from vacuum-saturation procedure in Test Method C1202, but omit
specimen surfaces. the step for coating specimen side surfaces.
5.6 Water-Cooled Saw, with diamond impregnated blade to 8.2 After saturating, measure the mass of each test speci-
cut test specimens from larger samples. men to the nearest 0.01 g.
5.7 Environmental Chamber, a chamber allowing for air 8.3 Place test specimens in the environmental chamber at a
circulation and able to maintain a temperature of 50 6 2°C and temperature of 50 6 2°C and RH of 80 6 3 % for 3 days.
a relative humidity at 80 6 3 %. Alternatively, an oven able to Alternatively, place test specimens in a desiccator inside an
maintain a temperature of 50 6 2°C and a desiccator large oven at a temperature of 50 6 2°C for 3 days. If the desiccator
enough to contain the specimens to be tested is permitted. The is used, control the relative humidity in the desiccator with a
relative humidity (RH) is controlled in the desiccator at 80 6 saturated solution of potassium bromide (see 5.7), but do not
0.5 % by a saturated solution of potassium bromide. The allow test specimens to contact the solution.
solubility of potassium bromide is 80.2 g/100 g of water at
50°C. The solution shall be maintained at the saturation point NOTE 3—If the RH is controlled using a saturated potassium bromide
solution, the solution should be placed in the bottom of the desiccator,
for the duration of the test. The presence of visible crystals in rather than in a separate container, to maximize the exposed surface area
the solution provides acceptable evidence of saturation. of the solution.
5.8 Polyethylene Storage Containers, with sealable lids, 8.4 After the 3 days, place each specimen inside a sealable
large enough to contain at least one test specimen but not larger container (as defined in 5.8). Use a separate container for each
than 5 times the specimen volume. specimen. Precautions must be taken to allow free flow of air

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 C1585 − 20
around the specimen by ensuring minimal contact of the 9.5.1 Measure the mass of the sealed specimen to the
specimen with the walls of the container. nearest 0.01 g and record it as the initial mass for water
8.5 Store the container at 23 6 2°C for at least 15 days absorption calculations.
before the start of the absorption procedure. 9.5.2 Place the support device at the bottom of the pan and
NOTE 4—Storage in the sealed container for at least 15 days results in fill the pan with tap water so that the water level is 1 to 3 mm
equilibration of the moisture distribution within the test specimens and has above the top of the support device. Maintain the water level 1
been found4 to provide internal relative humidities of 50 to 70 %. This is
similar to 5the relative humidities found near the surface in some field
to 3 mm above the top of the support device for the duration of
structures. , 6 the tests.

9. Procedure NOTE 5—One method for keeping the water level constant is to install
a water-filled bottle upside down such that the bottle opening is in contact
9.1 Remove the specimen from the storage container and with the water at the desired level.
record the mass of the conditioned specimen to the nearest
9.5.3 Start the timing device and immediately place the test
0.01 g before sealing of side surfaces.
surface of the specimen on the support device (see Fig. 1).
9.2 Measure at least four diameters of the specimen at the Record the time and date of initial contact with water.
surface to be exposed to water. Measure the diameters to the 9.5.4 Record the mass at the intervals shown in Table 1 after
nearest 0.1 mm and calculate the average diameter to the first contact with water. Using the procedure in 9.5.5, the first
nearest 0.1 mm. point shall be at 60 6 2 s and the second point at 5 min 6 10
9.3 Seal the side surface of each specimen with a suitable s. Subsequent measurements shall be within 6 2 min of 10
sealing material. Seal the end of the specimen that will not be min, 20 min, 30 min, and 60 min. The actual time shall be
exposed to water using a loosely attached plastic sheet (see recorded to within 6 10 s. Continue the measurements every
6.2). The plastic sheet can be secured using an elastic band or hour, 6 5 min, up to 6 h, from the first contact of the specimen
other equivalent system (see Fig. 1). with water and record the time within 6 1 min. After the initial
9.4 Use the procedure below to determine water absorption 6 h, take measurements once a day up to 3 days, followed by
as a function of time. Conduct the absorption procedure at 23 3 measurements at least 24 h apart during days 4 to 7; take a
6 2°C with tap water conditioned to the same temperature. final measurement that is at least 24 h after the measurement at
7 days. The actual time of measurements shall be recorded
9.5 Absorption Procedure:
within 6 1 min. This will result in seven data points for contact
time during days 2 through 8. Table 1 gives the target times of
measurements and the tolerances for the times.
4
Bentz, D. P., Ehlen, M. A., Ferraris, C. F., and Winpigler, J. A., “Service Life 9.5.5 For each mass determination, remove the test speci-
Prediction Based on Sorptivity for Highway Concrete Exposed to Sulfate Attack and
men from the pan, stop the timing device if the contact time is
Freeze-Thaw Conditions,” FHWA-RD-01-162, 2001.
5
DeSouza, S. J., Hooton R. D., and Bickley J. A., “Evaluation of Laboratory less than 10 min, and blot off any surface water with a
Drying Procedures Relevant to Field Conditions for Concrete Sorptivity dampened paper towel or cloth. After blotting to remove excess
Measurements,” Cement, Concrete and Aggregates, Vol 19, No. 2, December 1997, water, invert the specimen so that the wet surface does not
pp. 59–63.
6
DeSouza, S. J., Hooton, R. D., and Bickley, J. A., “A Field Test for Evaluating come in contact with the balance pan (to avoid having to dry
High Performance Concrete Covercrete Quality,” Canadian Journal of Civil the balance pan). Within 15 s of removal from the pan, measure
Engineering, Vol 25, No. 3, June 1998, pp. 551–556.

FIG. 1 Schematic of the Procedure

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 C1585 − 20
TABLE 1 Times and Tolernaces for the Measurements Schedule
Time 60 s 5 min 10 min 20 min 30 min 60 min Every hour up to 6 h Once a day up to 3 Day 4 to 7 Day 7 to 9
days 3 measurements 24 h 1 (one)
apart measurement
Tolerance 2s 10 s 2 min 2 min 2 min 2 min 5 min 2h 2h 2h

the mass to the nearest 0.01 g. Immediately replace the 11. Report
specimen on the support device and restart the timing device.
11.1 Report the following:
10. Calculations 11.1.1 Date when concrete was sampled or cast,
10.1 The absorption, I, is the change in mass divided by the 11.1.2 Source of sample,
product of the cross-sectional area of the test specimen and the 11.1.3 Relevant background information on sample such as
density of water. For the purpose of this test, the temperature mixture proportions, curing history, type of finishing, and age,
dependence of the density of water is neglected and a value of if available,
0.001 g/mm3 is used. The units of I are mm. 11.1.4 Dimensions of specimen before sealing,
mt 11.1.5 Mass of specimen before the start of conditioning,
I5 (1)
a*d before sealing, and after sealing,
where: 11.1.6 A plot of absorption, I, in mm versus square root of
I = the absorption, time in s1/2,
mt = the change in specimen mass in grams, at the time t, 11.1.7 The average initial rate of water absorption calcu-
a = the exposed area of the specimen, in mm2, and lated to the nearest 0.1 × 10-4 mm/s1/2 and the individual initial
d = the density of the water in g/mm3. absorption rates for the two or more specimens, and
10.2 The initial rate of water absorption (mm/s1/2) is defined 11.1.8 The average secondary rate of water absorption
as the slope of the line that is the best fit to I plotted against the calculated to the nearest 0.1 × 10-4 mm/s1/2 and the individual
square root of time (s1/2). Obtain this slope by using least- absorption rates of the two or more specimens tested.
squares, linear regression analysis of the plot of I versus
time1/2. For the regression analysis, use all the points from 1 12. Precision and Bias
min to 6 h, excluding points for times after the plot shows a
clear change of slope. If the data between 1 min and 6 h do not 12.1 Precision—The repeatability coefficient of variation
follow a linear relationship (a correlation coefficient of less has been determined to be 6.0 % in preliminary measurements
than 0.98) and show a systematic curvature, the initial rate of for the absorption as measured by this test method for a single
absorption cannot be determined. laboratory and single operator. An interlaboratory program is
NOTE 6—Appendix X1 gives an example of absorption data and the being organized to develop the repeatability and reproducibil-
results of regression analysis. ity values.
10.3 The secondary rate of water absorption (mm/s1/2) is
12.2 Bias—The test method has no bias because the rate of
defined as the slope of the line that is the best fit to I plotted
water absorption determined can only be defined in terms of
against the square root of time (s1/2) using all the points from
the test method.
1 d to 7 d. Use least-square linear regression to determine the
slope. If the data between 1 d and 7 d do not follow a linear
relationship (a correlation coefficient of less than 0.98) and 13. Keywords
show a systematic curvature, the secondary rate of water 13.1 concrete; initial rate of water absorption; mortar; rate
absorption cannot be determined. of absorption; secondary rate of water absorption

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 C1585 − 20
APPENDIX

(Nonmandatory Information)

X1. EXAMPLE RATE OF WATER ABSORPTION TEST

TABLE X1.1 Example of Data Collected and Calculations

Cast Date: 3/2/99 Test Date: 3/14/00
Sample No. F-68 Concrete Mixture: Standard mixture I
Sample Conditioning: Cast, steam cured, test face = top surface
Sample: Age 378 days Age at coring: Unknown
Mass of Conditioned disc: 750.5 g (prior to sealing sides) Mass after sealing specimen: 761.8 g
Diameter (mm): 101.6 Exposed Area: 8107 mm2
Thickness (mm): 50.8
Water temp: 20.7°C
Test Time ∆Mass/area/density
=Time Mass ∆Mass
of water = I
Days s (s1/2) (g) (g)
(mm)
0 0 761.83 0.00 0.0000
60 8 762.45 0.62 0.0765
300 17 762.46 0.63 0.0777
600 24 762.48 0.65 0.0802
1200 35 762.50 0.67 0.0826
1800 42 762.57 0.74 0.0913
3600 60 762.63 0.80 0.0987
7200 85 762.68 0.85 0.1048
10800 104 762.73 0.90 0.1110
14400 120 762.77 0.94 0.1159
18000 134 762.81 0.98 0.1209
21600 147 762.82 0.99 0.1221
1 92220 304 763.05 1.22 0.1505
2 193200 440 763.12 1.29 0.1591
3 268500 518 763.15 1.32 0.1628
5 432000 657 763.31 1.48 0.1826
6 527580 726 763.39 1.56 0.1924
7 622200 789 763.45 1.62 0.1998
8 691200 831 763.5 1.67 0.2060

Calculations:

Initial Absorption:
I = Si =t + b (points measured up to 6 h are used)
The initial rate of absorption is: Si = 3.5 × 10-4 mm/=s r = 0.99

Secondary Absorption:
I = Ss =t + b (points measured after the first day are used)
The secondary rate of absorption is: Ss = 1.1 × 10-4 mm/=s

FIG. X1.1 Example of Plot of The Data Shown in Table X1.1

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 C1585 − 20

SUMMARY OF CHANGES

Committee C09 has identified the location of selected changes to this test method since the last issue,
C1585 – 13, that may impact the use of this test method. (Approved Sept. 1, 2020.)

(1) Added new subsection 1.3; renumbered subsequent subsec-

tions.

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