Performance Test for Sulfate Resistance of Concrete by Tensile Strength Measurements: Determination of Test Criteria

Abstract

The European standard EN 206-1 contains descriptive requirements for concrete to withstand sulfate attack in the field. This approach limits the use of feasible concrete mixtures that don’t comply with these requirements. A performance approach based on the residual tensile strength of concrete briquet specimen according to ASTM C307 after storage in sodium sulfate solution close to field conditions is suggested by the authors. The newly developed test method is verified on a variety of 23 binders. Threshold values for the determination of the sulfate resistance of concrete after nine months of storage in 6000 mg SO42−/L sulfate solution at 5 °C are proposed. A first repeatability test as well as thermodynamic calculations prove the suitability of the method to test the performance of concrete during sulfate attack under practical conditions.