Un método rápido y no-destructivo para medir la permeabilidad al aire del hormigón

Abstract

New device for non-destructive test. It is designed for "in situ" measurement of the impermeability to air of a concrete coating. The system is based on creating a vacuum inside a cell placed on its surface, and to measure how long does it take for the pressure to be back to the atmospheric value. The characteristic aspects of the method are: a cell with an inward chamber and a regulator to keep the pressure in balance inside this central chamber (measurement) and in the surrounding chamber (preservation ring). This ensures a single air flow direction towards the central chamber, avoiding any spurious transversal flow. The data of the measurement are processed by a microprocessor that indicates the permeability coefficient value at the end of the test which lasts 2 to 12 minutes. Results on coatings of different quality obtained through this technique are presented, which show an excellent correlation with values obtained on specimens using Cembureau method for permeability to oxigen imperviousness.