PSI - Issue 64

Irene Palomar et al. / Procedia Structural Integrity 64 (2024) 1435–1443 Irene Palomar et al. / Structural Integrity Procedia 00 (2024) 000 – 000

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shrinkage and water evaporation rate were measured on samples were measured on mortar samples placed in a shrinkage apparatus with internal dimensions of 500 x 100 x 50 mm located on a scale to measure the loss of mass for 6 hours. Hardened mortar properties evaluated in the study comprised microstructural and mechanical characterization, long term carbonation, thermal parameters and hygric characterization. Physical and mechanical hardened properties were characterized on 40x40x160 mm specimens, according to European standard UNE-EN 1015 – 11. Hardened porosity accessible to water and apparent density were measured by water saturation tests according to European standard UNE-EN 1015-10. Microporosity was measured by mercury intrusion using an Autopore IV-9500 apparatus. Compressive and flexural strength was measured on 40x40x160 mm specimens, according to European standard UNE-EN 1015 – 11. Ultrasonic pulse velocity modulus was measured on 40x40x160 mm mortar specimens at 28 days with a Pundit plus device and 54 kHz p-wave transducers, according to Palomar et al. (2015). Long term carbonation was characterized on 40x40x160 mm mortar specimens storage at laboratory conditions (20º and 60 % RH) at 28 and 180 days spraying a Phenolphthalein solution on a freshly fractured surface and measuring the total carbonated area. Thermal conductivity was measured on 220 × 240 × 24 ± 2 mm plate samples with a surface probe and an Isomet 2114 conductivimeter, manufactured by Applied precision. Mortar enthalpy on heating and cooling cycles was measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) with a Mettler Toledo DSC1 apparatus, considering 10 °C and 28 °C with isothermal segments of 5 min between each consecutive heating and cooling ramp, with a heating and cooling rate of 1 K/min.

Fig. 2. Experimental setup of heat and moisture transfer simulations tests and raw experimental results of cooling-heating and dry-wet cycles.