Designation: C 1585 – 04e1

Standard Test Method for

Measurement of Rate of Absorption of Water by Hydraulic-
Cement Concretes1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C 1585; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

e1 NOTE—A typo in Eq 1 was corrected editorially in December 2007.

1. Scope 3. Terminology
1.1 This test method is used to determine the rate of 3.1 For definitions of terms used in this standard, refer to
absorption (sorptivity) of water by hydraulic cement concrete Terminology C 125.
by measuring the increase in the mass of a specimen resulting
from absorption of water as a function of time when only one 4. Significance and Use
surface of the specimen is exposed to water. The exposed 4.1 The performance of concrete subjected to many aggres-
surface of the specimen is immersed in water and water ingress sive environments is a function, to a large extent, of the
of unsaturated concrete dominated by capillary suction during penetrability of the pore system. In unsaturated concrete, the
initial contact with water. rate of ingress of water or other liquids is largely controlled by
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the absorption due to capillary rise. This test method is based on
standard. that developed by Hall3 who called the phenomenon “water
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the sorptivity.”
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the 4.2 The water absorption of a concrete surface depends on
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- many factors including: (a) concrete mixture proportions; (b)
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- the presence of chemical admixtures and supplementary ce-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. mentitious materials; (c) the composition and physical charac-
teristics of the cementitious component and of the aggregates;
2. Referenced Documents (d) the entrained air content; (e) the type and duration of
2.1 ASTM Standards: 2 curing; (f) the degree of hydration or age; (g) the presence of
C 31/C 31M Practice for Making and Curing Concrete Test microcracks; (h) the presence of surface treatments such as
Specimens in the Field sealers or form oil; and (i) placement method including
C 42/C 42M Test Method for Obtaining and Testing Drilled consolidation and finishing. Water absorption is also strongly
Cores and Sawed Beams of Concrete affected by the moisture condition of the concrete at the time of
C 125 Terminology Relating to Concrete and Concrete testing.
Aggregates 4.3 This method is intended to determine the susceptibility
C 192/C 192M Practice for Making and Curing Concrete of an unsaturated concrete to the penetration of water. In
Test Specimens in the Laboratory general, the rate of absorption of concrete at the surface differs
C 642 Test Method for Density, Absorption, and Voids in from the rate of absorption of a sample taken from the interior.
Hardened Concrete The exterior surface is often subjected to less than intended
C 1005 Specification for Reference Masses and Devices for curing and is exposed to the most potentially adverse condi-
Determining Mass and Volume for Use in the Physical tions. This test method is used to measure the water absorption
Testing of Hydraulic Cements rate of both the concrete surface and interior concrete. By
drilling a core and cutting it transversely at selected depths, the
absorption can be evaluated at different distances from the
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C09 on exposed surface. The core is drilled vertically or horizontally.
Concrete and Concrete Aggregates and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee 4.4 This test method differs from Test Method C 642 in
C09.66 on Concrete’s Resistance to Fluid Penetration.
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2004. Published March 2004.
which the specimens are oven dried, immersed completely in
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.

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

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 C 1585 – 04e1
water at 21°C, and then boiled under water for 5 h. In this test 7. Test Specimens
method, only one surface is exposed to water at room tempera- 7.1 The standard test specimen is a 100 6 6 mm diameter
ture while the other surfaces are sealed simulating water disc, with a length of 50 6 3 mm. Specimens are obtained from
absorption in a member that is in contact with water on one either molded cylinders according to Practices C 31/C 31M or
side only. Test Method C 642, on the other hand, is used to C 192/C 192M or drilled cores according to Test Method
estimate the maximum amount of water that can be absorbed C 42/C 42M. The cross sectional area of a specimen shall not
by a dry specimen and therefore provides a measure of the vary more than 1 % from the top to the bottom of the specimen.
total, water permeable pore space. When cores are taken, they should be marked (see Note 1) so
that the surface to be tested relative to the original location in
5. Apparatus the structure is clearly indicated.
5.1 Pan, a watertight polyethylene or other corrosion- NOTE 1—The surface to be exposed during testing shall not be marked
resistant pan large enough to accommodate the test specimens or otherwise disturbed in such a manner as may modify the absorption rate
with the surfaces to be tested exposed to water. of the specimen.
5.2 Support Device, rods, pins, or other devices, which are 7.2 The average test results on at least 2 specimens (Note 2)
made of materials resistant to corrosion by water or alkaline shall constitute the test result. The test surfaces shall be at the
solutions, and which allow free access of water to the exposed same distance from the original exposed surface of the con-
surface of the specimen during testing. Alternatively, the crete.
specimens can be supported on several layers of blotting paper NOTE 2—Concrete is not a homogeneous material. Also, an exterior
or filter papers with a total thickness of at least 1 mm. surface of a concrete specimen seldom has the same porosity as the
5.3 Top-pan Balance, complying with Specification C 1005 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 6 0.01 g. 8. Sample Conditioning
5.4 Timing Device, stop watch or other suitable timing 8.1 Place test specimens in the environmental chamber at a
device accurate to 6 1 s. temperature of 50 6 2°C and RH of 80 6 3 % for 3 days.
5.5 Paper Towel or Cloth, for wiping excess water from Alternatively, place test specimens in a dessicator inside an
specimen surfaces. oven at a temperature of 50 6 2°C for 3 days. If the dessicator
5.6 Water-Cooled Saw, with diamond impregnated blade to is used, control the relative humidity in the dessicator with a
cut test specimens from larger samples. saturated solution of potassium bromide (see 5.7), but do not
5.7 Environmental Chamber, a chamber allowing for air allow test specimens to contact the solution.
circulation and able to maintain a temperature of 50 6 2°C and NOTE 3—To control the RH using the potassium bromide solution, the
a relative humidity at 80 6 3 %. Alternatively, an oven able to solution should be placed in the bottom of the dessicator, to ensure the
maintain a temperature of 50 6 2°C and a dessicator large largest surface of evaporation possible.
enough to contain the specimens to be tested is permitted. The 8.2 After the 3 days, place each specimen inside a sealable
relative humidity (RH) is controlled in the dessicator at 80 6 container (as defined in 5.8). Use a separate container for each
0.5 % by a saturated solution of potassium bromide. The specimen. Precautions must be taken to allow free flow of air
solubility of potassium bromide is 80.2 g/100 g of water at around the specimen by ensuring minimal contact of the
50°C. The solution shall be maintained at the saturation point specimen with the walls of the container.
for the duration of the test. The presence of visible crystals in 8.3 Store the container at 23 6 2°C for at least 15 days
the solution provides acceptable evidence of saturation. before the start of the absorption procedure.
5.8 Polyethylene Storage Containers, with sealable lids, NOTE 4—Storage in the sealed container for at least 15 days results in
large enough to contain at least one test specimen but not larger equilibration of the moisture distribution within the test specimens and has
than 5 times the specimen volume. been found4 to provide internal relative humidities of 50 to 70 %. This is
5.9 Caliper, to measure the specimen dimensions to the similar to the relative humidities found near the surface in some field
structures.5,6
nearest 0.1 mm.
9. Procedure
6. Reagents and Materials 9.1 Remove the specimen from the storage container and
6.1 Potassium Bromide, Reagent Grade, required if the record the mass of the conditioned specimen to the nearest 0.01
oven and dessicator system described in 5.7 is used. g before sealing of side surfaces.
6.2 Sealing Material, strips of low permeability adhesive
4
sheets, epoxy paint, vinyl electrician’s tape, duct tape, or Bentz D. P., Ehlen M. A., Ferraris C. F., and Winpigler J. A., “Service Life
aluminium tape. The material shall not require a curing time Prediction Based on Sorptivity for Highway Concrete Exposed to Sulfate Attack and
Freeze-Thaw Conditions,” FHWA-RD-01-162, 2001.
longer than 10 minutes. 5
DeSouza S. J., Hooton R. D., and Bickley J. A., “Evaluation of Laboratory
6.3 Plastic Bag or Sheeting, any plastic bag or sheeting that Drying Procedures Relevant to Field Conditions for Concrete Sorptivity Measure-
ments,” Cement Concrete Aggr 19: (2), Dec 1997, pp. 59-63.
could be attached to the specimen to control evaporation from 6
DeSouza S. J., Hooton R. D., and Bickley J. A., “A Field Test for Evaluating
the surface not exposed to water. An elastic band is required to High Performance Concrete Covercrete Quality,” Can J Civil Eng, 25: (3), Jun
keep the bag or sheeting in place during the measurements. 1998, pp. 551-556.

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 C 1585 – 04e1
9.2 Measure at least four diameters of the specimen at the final measurement that is at least 24 h after the measurement at
surface to be exposed to water. Measure the diameters to the 7 days. The actual time of measurements shall be recorded
nearest 0.1 mm and calculate the average diameter to the within 6 1 min. This will result in seven data points for contact
nearest 0.1 mm. time during days 2 through 8. Table 1 gives the target times of
9.3 Seal the side surface of each specimen with a suitable measurements and the tolerances for the times.
sealing material. Seal the end of the specimen that will not be 9.5.5 For each mass determination, remove the test speci-
exposed to water using a loosely attached plastic sheet (see men from the pan, stop the timing device if the contact time is
6.2). The plastic sheet can be secured using an elastic band or less than 10 min, and blot off any surface water with a
other equivalent system (see Fig. 1). dampened paper towel or cloth. After blotting to remove excess
9.4 Use the procedure below to determine water absorption water, invert the specimen so that the wet surface does not
as a function of time. Conduct the absorption procedure at 23 come in contact with the balance pan (to avoid having to dry
6 2°C with tap water conditioned to the same temperature. the balance pan). Within 15 s of removal from the pan, measure
9.5 Absorption Procedure: the mass to the nearest 0.01 g. Immediately replace the
9.5.1 Measure the mass of the sealed specimen to the specimen on the support device and restart the timing device.
nearest 0.01 g and record it as the initial mass for water
absorption calculations. 10. Calculations
9.5.2 Place the support device at the bottom of the pan and
fill the pan with tap water so that the water level is 1 to 3 mm 10.1 The absorption, I, is the change in mass divided by the
above the top of the support device. Maintain the water level 1 product of the cross-sectional area of the test specimen and the
to 3 mm above the top of the support device for the duration of density of water. For the purpose of this test, the temperature
the tests. dependence of the density of water is neglected and a value of
0.001 g/mm3 is used. The units of I are mm.
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 mt
I 5 a*d , (1)
with the water at the desired level.
9.5.3 Start the timing device and immediately place the test where:
surface of the specimen on the support device (see Fig. 1). I = the absorption,
Record the time and date of initial contact with water. mt = the change in specimen mass in grams, at the time t,
9.5.4 Record the mass at the intervals shown in Table 1 after a = the exposed area of the specimen, in mm2, and
first contact with water. Using the procedure in 9.5.5, the first d = the density of the water in g/mm3.
point shall be at 60 6 2 s and the second point at 5 min 6 10 10.2 The initial rate of water absorption (mm/s1/2) is defined
s. Subsequent measurements shall be within 6 2 min of 10 as the slope of the line that is the best fit to I plotted against the
min, 20 min, 30 min, and 60 min. The actual time shall be square root of time (s1/2). Obtain this slope by using least-
recorded to within 6 10 s. Continue the measurements every squares, linear regression analysis of the plot of I versus
hour, 6 5 min, up to 6 h, from the first contact of the specimen time1/2. For the regression analysis, use all the points from 1
with water and record the time within 6 1 min. After the initial min to 6 h, excluding points for times after the plot shows a
6 h, take measurements once a day up to 3 days, followed by clear change of slope. If the data between 1 min and 6 h do not
3 measurements at least 24 h apart during days 4 to 7; take a follow a linear relationship (a correlation coefficient of less

FIG. 1 Schematic of the Procedure

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 C 1585 – 04e1
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 days Day 4 to 7 Day 7 to 9
3 measurements 24 h apart 1 (one) measurement
Tolerance 2s 10 s 2 min 2 min 2 min 2 min 5 min 2h 2h 2h

than 0.98) and show a systematic curvature, the initial rate of 11.1.6 A plot of absorption, I, in mm versus square root of
absorption cannot be determined. time in s1/2,
NOTE 6—Appendix X1 gives an example of absorption data and the
11.1.7 The average initial rate of water absorption calcu-
results of regression analysis. lated to the nearest 0.1 3 10-4 mm/s1/2 and the individual initial
absorption rates for the two or more specimens, and
10.3 The secondary rate of water absorption (mm/s1/2) is 11.1.8 The average secondary rate of water absorption
defined as the slope of the line that is the best fit to I plotted calculated to the nearest 0.1 3 10-4 mm/s1/2 and the individual
against the square root of time (s1/2) using all the points from absorption rates of the two or more specimens tested.
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 12. Precision and Bias
relationship (a correlation coefficient of less than 0.98) and 12.1 Precision—The repeatability coefficient of variation
show a systematic curvature, the secondary rate of water has been determined to be 6.0 % in preliminary measurements
absorption cannot be determined. for the absorption as measured by this test method for a single
laboratory and single operator. An interlaboratory program is
11. Report
being organized to develop the repeatability and reproducibil-
11.1 Report the following: ity values.
11.1.1 Date when concrete was sampled or cast, 12.2 Bias—The test method has no bias because the rate of
11.1.2 Source of sample, water absorption determined can only be defined in terms of
11.1.3 Relevant background information on sample such as the test method.
mixture proportions, curing history, type of finishing, and age,
if available, 13. Keywords
11.1.4 Dimensions of specimen before sealing, 13.1 concrete; initial rate of water absorption; mortar; rate
11.1.5 Mass of specimen before and after sealing, of absorption; secondary rate of water absorption

APPENDIX

(Nonmandatory Information)

X1. EXAMPLE RATE OF WATER ABSORPTION TEST

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 C 1585 – 04e1
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 DMass/area/density
=Time Mass DMass
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 3 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 3 10-4 mm/=s

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

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 C 1585 – 04e1
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