Performance-based approach to characterize external sulfate attack for reactive powder concrete

Abstract

Reactive powder concrete (RPC) is a relatively new type of high-performance concrete, offering enhanced load-bearing capacity, mechanical strength, and durability. The enhanced microstructural density of RPC with the incorporation of reinforcing fibers significantly increases its resistance to durability challenges, particularly against external sulfate attack (ESA). However, conventional laboratory testing methods for evaluating the resistance of RPC to ESA are limited. Hence, a new performance-based approach was developed to evaluate the durability of RPC exposed to ESA. Expansion of nine RPC mixtures designed by Taguchi L9 orthogonal array method with four factors (steel fiber content, water-to-binder ratio (w/b), silica fume content, and sodium sulfate (Na₂SO₄) concentration) at three different temperatures (20, 40, and 60 °C) was used to calculate the reaction rate constant based on the first order chemical reaction kinetics. This mathematical model was rearranged to determine the activation energy (E_a), minimal energy required to initiate the ESA reaction, of RPC mixtures that were used to evaluate the performance of RPC mixtures exposed to ESA. The threshold value of E_a was determined from the correlation between Na₂SO₄ solution concentrations and the E_a values of RPC mixtures. It was concluded that the model-defined parameters provide valuable insights to characterize the ESA durability of RPC.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

performance-based approach / reactive powder concrete / external sulfate attack / reaction rate constant / activation energy

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