On the relationship between pore structure and charge passed from RCPT in mineral-free cement-based materials

In this study, the pore structure and the charge passed of cement-based materials were measured with the mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) method and the rapid chloride permeability test (RCPT), respectively. In order to investigate the effect of the water/cement (w/c) ratio on the pore structure and the charge passed of cement-based materials, specimens with eight different w/c ratios were made. ASTM Type I Portland cement with constant aggregates and no mineral additives was used for all mixes. Based on the porosity–electrical resistivity relationship, fits to the experimental data of the coarse capillary pore volume as a function of the charge passed were obtained. A good correlation between coarse capillary pore volume and charge passed has been determined.