Assessment of carbonation depth under natural and accelerated carbonation conditions

Abstract

This paper deals with the effect of accelerated carbonation on mechanical properties and durability of unreinforced concrete. Concrete with water binder ratios of 0.35, 0.50 and 0.65 were cast and kept in accelerated carbonation chamber under controlled conditions for a period of 1 year. Specimens were removed at predefined time intervals and tested for compressive strength, flexural strength, modulus of elasticity, volume of permeable pores and depth of carbonation. The depth of carbonation obtained from the accelerated carbonation conditions are used to predict the carbonation depths under natural concentration of carbon dioxide using Fick’s law and the values are compared to those obtained from a structure 60 years old.