Concrete with Crystalline Admixture for Ventilated Tunnel against Moisture

Abstract

The paper deals with the use of concrete with crystalline admixture for special remedial structure which is exposed to intensive ground moisture and high level of air humidity. Additional protection of ground part of older buildings against subsurface water and ground moisture is one of the most important measures to ensure their long-time durability and satisfactory user properties. One of the most used remediation method are the air ducts which principle is to enable air flow along the moist structure surface to allow the sufficient evaporation of moisture from the structure. This group of methods includes also the ventilated underground tunnel along the perimeter walls. Presently the ventilated tunnels are designed as masonry structure whose durability in contact with the ground moisture is limited. The paper introduces a new technical solution of this method based on the special shaped concrete blocks whose durability is ensured by using of concrete with crystalline admixture. The waterproofing effect of the crystalline admixture is declared by the results of laboratory tests (in comparison with efficiency of crystalline coating).