Question 6 Explain how the wc ratio affect the durability of

Question 6 Explain how the w/c ratio affect the durability of concrete Paragraph

Solution

Durability of concrete :

Durability of concrete is defined as the ability to resist weathering action, chemical attack, abrasion or any other process of deterioration.

IMPACT OF WATER CEMENT RATIO :

Volume change of concrete results in cracks. Cracks are responsible for disintegration of concrete. Permeability is the contributing factor for volume change. And high w/c ratio is the main reason for high permeability.

So high water cement ratio>>higher permeability >>volume change>>forms cracks >>disintegration >>failure of concrete.

So durable concrete, use of lowest possible water cement ratio is the fundamental requirement to produce dense and impermeable concrete.

Low w/c concrete are less sensitive to carbonation, external chemical attacks and other detrimental effects that causes lack of concrete.

With low w/c it becomes impossible to corrode steel reinforcement.

In practice it is difficult to reduce w/c to below 0.4.But with the use of super plasticizers it is possible to make flowing cement with w/c ratio as low as 0.2