Durability Performance-Based

Specifications and Control: the Swiss

Approach
Roberto Torrent
Materials Advanced Services Ltd.
CH-6877 Coldrerio, Switzerland
[email protected]
www.m-a-s.com.ar

Objectives
Present the evolution of Swiss Standards regarding
Durability, from prescriptive to performance (P2P)
Discuss in some detail the main Milestones of the
process, focusing on steel corrosion
Present foreseeable consequences of the new
approach for Concrete Construction

Structure of Swiss Standards for Concrete

SN 505 262:03 (Eurocode 2)
"Concrete Construction"
Materials
Structural Analysis + Dimensioning
Detailing
ACI 318
Execution

SN EN 206-1:00
"Concrete: Specification,
performance,
production and conformity"
Raw Materials
Exposure Classes
Production/Delivery
Requirements
Conformity Control

ASTM
C94

SN 505 262/1:03

"Concrete Test Methods"

Water sorptivity
Chloride Migration
Air-Permeability on site

ASTM
C.
3

Main Milestones in P2P

Modification of Swiss Standards
2000: Adoption of EN206-1 (Prescriptive)
2003: Adoption of Water Sorptivity qw, and Chloride
Migration DCl tests as durability performance
indicators of concrete production

Swiss Std.
(US equiv.)
SN EN 206-1
(ASTM C94)
SN 505 262/1
(ASTM C1585)
(AASHTO TP64)

2008: Limits for qwmax and DClmax specified

SN EN 206-1
(ASTM C94)

2003: Recognition of role of covercrete

impermeability and need of site assessment

SN 505 262/1
(ACI 318)

2003: Adoption of kT test as durability

performance indicator of site concrete

SN 505 262/1
(ASTM C??)

2009: Limits for site kTmax specified by FHWA

2012?: Limits for site kTmax

Swiss Standards

VSS 641 (FHWA)

SN 505 262
(ACI 318)
4

Corrosion Exposure Classes after SN EN 206-1:00

Eq. ACI
318-08
C0
C1

C2

2000: EN 206-1 adopted by Swiss Standards

2000

Year

Example for Corrosion induced by Carbonation and

Chlorides
Exposure
Class

Carbonation (~ACI 318 C1)

Chlorides (~ACI 318 C2)

XC1

XC2

XC3

XC4

XD1

XD2a

XD2b

StrengthCyl
Classmin

25

25

25

30

25

25

30

30

Cmin (kg/m)

280

280

280

300

300

300

320

320

w/cmax

0.65

0.65

0.60

0.50

0.50

0.50

0.45

0.45

ACI 318 C0 and C1:

fcmin = 17.5 MPa
w/cmax = ---

XD3

ACI 318 C2:

fcmin = 35 MPa
w/cmax = 0.40

Permeability to O2 (kO) vs water/cement ratio

kO (10-16 m)

10

0.1
OPC
Blended
0.01
0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

w/c ratio
kO: RILEM-Cembureau test
7

Cl- Diffusion vs w/c ratio (JSCE-Japan)

Year 2000
Purely prescriptive specification of mix design
DESIGN

PRACTICE

Specification Concrete
of
Production +
w/cmax
Delivery
Covercrete
Quality = K-1
K = Penetrability

Execution:
Placing
Compaction
Finishing
Curing

CONTROL
w/c ???

Visual
Inspection

Compressive Strength (psi)

Relation Strength vs w/c (ACI 211)

7000
6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

w/c ratio

Why dont we specify w/cmax= 0.50 for fc= 3500 psi?

10

Because we have agreed on a test to measure fc

The test is far from perfect, since the result depends on:
The slenderness of the specimen (cylinder, cube), much
different than in real life
The capping material for cylinders, absent in real life
The rate of loading, much higher than in real life
The moisture content, much higher than in real life

Yet, we have been used to accept the results as a good

indicator of the strength used for structural design.
Hence, agreeing on meaningful tests for durability is a
crucial step in the P2P process.
This has been achieved in Switzerland.
11

Main Milestones in P2P

Modification of Swiss Standards
2000: Adoption of EN206-1 (Prescriptive)
2003: Adoption of Water Sorptivity qw, and Chloride
Migration DCl tests as durability performance
indicators of concrete production

Swiss Std.
(US equiv.)
SN EN 206-1
(ASTM C94)
SN 505 262/1
(ASTM C1585)
(AASHTO TP64)

2008: Limits for qwmax and DClmax specified

SN EN 206-1
(ASTM C94)

2003: Recognition of role of covercrete

impermeability and need of site assessment

SN 505 262/1
(ACI 318)

2003: Adoption of kT test as durability

performance indicator of site concrete

SN 505 262/1
(ASTM C??)

2009: Limits for site kTmax specified by FHWA

2012?: Limits for site kTmax

Swiss Standards

VSS 641 (FHWA)

SN 505 262
(ACI 318)
12

Capillary Suction: Standard SN 505 262/1-A

Similar to ASTM C1585

Concrete
Core
(50x50 mm)

13

Capillary Suction: Standard SN 505 262/1-A

qw = water conductivity (Wasserleitfhigkeit) [g/(m2 . h)]

M24= water absorbed per unit area in 24 h [g/m2]
h24= capillary rise after 24 h [mm]
t24= 24 [h]
UE= capillary porosity of sample [-]
UB= capillary porosity filled with water at t=0 [-]
400 = 2*d [mm], assuming d=200 mm
d = element thickness [mm]

k = mt / (A . t)

k = "capillarity index" @ 24 h [g/m2/s0.5]

14

Relation between qw and k

12

Very
good

Good

Fair

Fair

Bad

Classes proposed by Torrent and Frenzer (1995)

15

Cl- Migration, Standard SN 505 262/1-B

(NordTest NT BUILD
492:1999)

Similar to
AASHTO TP 64
30-40 V

3% NaCl+
0.2M KOH

0.2M KOH

Concrete core
(50x50 mm)

anode
Cl-

cathode
16

Cl- Migration, Standard SIA 262/1-B:2003

xd
17

Cl- Migration, Standard SIA 262/1-B:2003

After the test (16 or 24 h), the cylinder is split (Brazilian
test) and the depth of Cl- penetration (xd) is revealed and
measured by spraying a solution based on AgNO3.
The chloride migration coefficient DCl is computed as:

with

h = cylinder height (m)

T = mean temperature of both solutions during test (C)
U = mean of applied voltage at initiation and end of test (V)
t = test duration (s)

18

Main Milestones in P2P

Modification of Swiss Standards
2000: Adoption of EN206-1 (Prescriptive)
2003: Adoption of Water Sorptivity qw, and Chloride
Migration DCl tests as durability performance
indicators of concrete production

Swiss Std.
(US equiv.)
SN EN 206-1
(ASTM C94)
SN 505 262/1
(ASTM C1585)
(AASHTO TP64)

2008: Limits for qwmax and DClmax specified

SN EN 206-1
(ASTM C94)

2003: Recognition of role of covercrete

impermeability and need of site assessment

SN 505 262/1
(ACI 318)

2003: Adoption of kT test as durability

performance indicator of site concrete

SN 505 262/1
(ASTM C??)

2009: Limits for site kTmax specified by FHWA

2012?: Limits for site kTmax

Swiss Standards

VSS 641 (FHWA)

SN 505 262
(ACI 318)
19

2008

2000

Year

2008: Specification of limits for qw and DCl

Exposure Class

Carbonation (~ACI C1)

Chlorides (~ACI 318 C2)

XC1

XC2

XC3

XC4

XD1

Strength
Classmin

25/
30

25/
30

25/
30

30/
37

25/
30

Cmin (kg/m)

280

280

280

300

w/cmax

0.65

0.65

0.60

qwmax (g/mh)

---

---

DCl max (10-12 m/s)

---

---

Minimum Frequency*

XD2a

XD2b

XD3

25/
30

30/
37

30/
37

300

300

320

320

0.50

0.50

0.50

0.45

0.45

---

10

10

10

---

---

---

---

---

---

10

10

4 tests /year

4 tests /year

1 test / 500 m3

1 test/125 m3

* Typical: can be reduced for experienced producers and/or for high production rates

20

Year 2008
Performance specification of concrete as produced
DESIGN

PRACTICE

Specification Concrete
of
Production
Kmax
Covercrete
Quality = K-1
K = Penetrability

on Delivered
Concrete

Execution:
Placing
Compaction
Finishing
Curing

CONTROL
Standard K
Tests on cast
Specimens

Visual
Inspection

21

Main Milestones in P2P

Modification of Swiss Standards
2000: Adoption of EN206-1 (Prescriptive)
2003: Adoption of Water Sorptivity qw, and Chloride
Migration DCl tests as durability performance
indicators of concrete production

Swiss Std.
(US equiv.)
SN EN 206-1
(ASTM C94)
SN 505 262/1
(ASTM C1585)
(AASHTO TP64)

2008: Limits for qwmax and DClmax specified

SN EN 206-1
(ASTM C94)

2003: Recognition of key role of covercrete

impermeability and need of site assessment

SN 505 262/1
(ACI 318)

2003: Adoption of kT test as durability

performance indicator of site concrete

SN 505 262/1
(ASTM C??)

2009: Limits for site kTmax specified by FHWA

2012?: Limits for site kTmax

Swiss Standards

VSS 641 (FHWA)

SN 505 262
(ACI 318)
22

Quality of Concrete in a Real Structure

CO2

Cl-

SO42-, Abrasion, Frost

Covercrete of
Poorer Quality
Due to:

Re-bars

Segregation
Compaction
Curing
Bleeding
Finishing
Microcracks

Moulded
specimens, cast
and cured under
standard
conditions, DO
NOT represent the
quality of the vital
covercrete

23

Swiss Standard SN 505 262 Concrete Construction

With regard to durability, the quality of the cover

concrete is of particular importance

The impermeability of the cover concrete shall be

checked, by means of permeability tests (e.g. air
permeability measurements), on the structure or on
cores taken from the structure
24

Main Milestones in P2P

Modification of Swiss Standards
2000: Adoption of EN206-1 (Prescriptive)
2003: Adoption of Water Sorptivity qw, and Chloride
Migration DCl tests as durability performance
indicators of concrete production
2008: Limits for qwmax and DClmax specified
2003: Recognition of role of covercrete
impermeability and need of site assessment
2003: Adoption of kT test as durability
performance indicator of site concrete
2009: Limits for site kTmax specified by FHWA
2012?: Limits for site kTmax

Swiss Standards

Swiss Std.
(US equiv.)
SN EN 206-1
(ASTM C94)
SIA 262/1
(ASTM C1585)
(AASHTO TP64)
SN EN 206-1
(ASTM C94)
SIA 262/1
(ACI 318)
SIA 262/1
(ASTM C??)
VSS 641 (FHWA)
SIA 262
(ACI 318)
25

Air Permeability in situ: SN 505 262/1-E:2003

Vacuum Pump
Valve 1

Valve 2

Pe

Touch-screen
Computer

Pi

Pressure
Regulator

(Pe=Pi)
2-Chamber
Vacuum cell
Soft rings

i e

i : Inner chamber
e : External chamber

Concrete

26

Calculation of kT

kT =

Vc

2 Pa

Pa + Pi (tf)
ln
Pa - Pi (tf)

tf - to

kT: coefficient of air-permeability (m2)

Vc : volume of inner cell system (m3)
A : cross-sectional area of inner cell (m2)
: viscosity of air (= 2.0 10-5 N.s/m2)
: estimated porosity of the covercrete (= 0.15)
Pa : atmospheric pressure (N/m2)
Pi: pressure rise in the inner cell at end of test (N/m2)
tf : time (s) at the end of the test ( 2 to 6 or 12 min)
to : time (s) at the beginning of the test (= 60 s)
27

Relation of kT with other Durability Indicators

100000

ASTM C1202

Water Sorptivity

High (+ Very High)

20

Coulombs

24-h Sorptivity (g/m/s)

25

15

10

Moderate

Very
Low

100
0.01

0.1

kT (10

-16

10

100

0.001

kT (10

10

100

10

100

m)

25

Water Penetration
under Pressure
(EN 12390-8)

75
50
25
0
0.001

0.1

m)
500-d. Carbonation (mm)

Max. Penetration (mm)

100

0.01

-16

150
125

Low

1000

Laboratory
Tunnel
Bridge

0
0.001

10000

0.01

0.1
kT (10

-16

1
m)

10

Carbonation
20
15
10
5
0
0.001

0.01

0.1

28-d. kT (10-16 m)
28

Main Milestones in P2P

Modification of Swiss Standards
2000: Adoption of EN206-1 (Prescriptive)
2003: Adoption of Water Sorptivity qw, and Chloride
Migration DCl tests as durability performance
indicators of concrete production
2008: Limits for qwmax and DClmax specified
2003: Recognition of role of covercrete
impermeability and need of site assessment
2003: Adoption of kT test as durability
performance indicator of site concrete
2009: Limits for site kTmax specified by FHWA
2012?: Limits for site kTmax

Swiss Standards

Swiss Std.
(US equiv.)
SN EN 206-1
(ASTM C94)
SIA 262/1
(ASTM C1585)
(AASHTO TP64)
SN EN 206-1
(ASTM C94)
SIA 262/1
(ACI 318)
SIA 262/1
(ASTM C??)
VSS 641 (FHWA)
SIA 262
(ACI 318)
29

Recommendations for site kT quality control

Issued by the Swiss Federal Highway Administration

Specification of kT
Sampling
Suitable age, temperature
and moisture conditions
Calibration and testing
Conformity Rules
Reporting

30

2008

2003

Year

2012?: Swiss Standards adopt FHWA limits

Exposure
Class

Chlorides (~ACI 318 C2)

XC1

XC2

XC3

XC4

XD1

XD2a

XD2b

XD3

Strength
Classmin

25/
30

25/
30

25/
30

30/
37

25/
30

25/
30

30/
37

30/
37

Cmin (kg/m)

280

280

280

300

300

300

320

320

w/cmax

0.65

0.65

0.60

0.50

0.50

0.50

0.45

0.45

qwmax (g/mh)

---

---

---

10

10

10

---

---

DCl max

---

---

---

---

---

---

10

10

Site kTmax *

---

---

---

2.0

2.0

2.0

0.5

0.5

(10-12

2012?

Carbonation (~ACI C1)

m/s)

(10-16 m)

* Proposed by the Swiss Federal Highway Administration in 2009

31

Year 2009 (2012?)

Performance specification of site concrete
DESIGN

PRACTICE

Specification Concrete
of
Production
Kmax
Covercrete
Quality = K-1
K = Penetrability

on Delivered
and Site
Concrete

Execution:
Placing
Compaction
Finishing
Curing

CONTROL
Standard K
Tests on cast
Specimens

kT checked on
site

32

Conclusions: Prescriptive Approach

1. The classical prescriptive approach:
Specifies a Durability Indicator (w/c) that:
is increasingly questionable (composite binders)
is very difficult to control in practice

Does not encourage innovation

Does not guarantee durability, as reality has confirmed
Is an obstacle to design sustainable concrete mixes

2. The introduction of Penetrability Tests on cast

specimens instead of w/cmax, as Durability Indicators, is
a clear step forward, but still falls short of ensuring the
durability of the real structure because:
Establishes the last control point at the concrete plant /
truck chute, ignoring what happens after sampling
Hence, it does not include the crucial impact of
concreting practices quality
33

Conclusions: Swiss Approach to Performance

Specifications
1. The Swiss Standard SIA 262 approach, establishing
as Durability Indicator the permeability of the cover
concrete, measured on the structure , aims at
controlling the final product
2. Thus, it evaluates the result of the contribution of all
players in the concrete construction chain (designers,
concrete producers, raw materials suppliers,
contractors, inspection, etc.)

34

Conclusions: Swiss Approach to Performance

Specifications
3. By checking the final product, a performance-oriented
mindset is created in all players, ensuring a fair
competition, in particular:
for the Contractors , who have to deliver the product to
be tested (those not applying best practices will be
penalized by having to order richer mixes or to apply
remedial measures)
for the Concrete Producers , who have to efficiently
design, produce and deliver a concrete capable of
achieving the required performance
for the Raw Materials Suppliers (cement, additions,
admixtures) who will have to design their products to
achieve the best performance in concrete

35

Conclusions: Swiss Approach to Performance

Specifications
4. Discourages all too common bad practices such as:
Accidental or deliberate transgressions of the
specified w/cmax by RMX concrete producers
Uncontrolled addition of water to the ready-mixed
concrete trucks after leaving the batching point
Incorrect placing and compaction practices
Poor finishing techniques of floors and pavements
Insufficient or total absence of moist curing

36

Conclusions: Swiss Approach to Performance

Specifications
5. Incentives innovation by encouraging the use of:
SCC, that creates a more compact and uniform concrete
cover than conventional vibrated concrete
Permeable formwork liners
More efficient curing compounds and/or self-curing
concretes
High Performance Concretes
Ultra-high Performance Composites (selectively)
Low or no Shrinkage Concretes (ShCC)

6. Facilitates the Engineer/Inspection task, who can

concentrate their efforts on checking the final product
instead of all intermediate operations (+ a preventive
role)
37

References
Swiss Standard SN EN 206-1:2000, Concrete - Part 1: Specification, performance,
production and conformity
Swiss Standard SIA 262:2003, Concrete Construction
Swiss Standard SIA 262/1: 2003, " Concrete Construction Complementary
Specifications:
Annex A: Water Conductivity
Annex B: Chlorides Resistance
Annex E: Air-Permeability on the Structure
2008: Revision of Section 8.2.3.2 of National Annex of Swiss Standard SN EN 2061:2000
Jacobs F., Denari E., Leemann A., Teruzzi T., Recommendations for Quality Control
of Concrete with Air-Permeability Measurements, Office Fdral des Routes, Bern,
Report VSS 641, December 2009, (in German).Downloadable from:
http://partnershop.vss.ch/downloadAnhang.aspx?ID=8e2c2936-d3a4-43d7-8dd6b0706e9a65fb&ID_Sprache=1
English Translation of Chapters 1 and 2 downloadable from http://www.m-as.com.ar/pdf/Swiss%20Recommendations%20for%20site%20measurement%20Ch%20
1%20and%202.pdf
Torrent R., Relation with other Transport Properties, including data sources,
downloadable from www.m-a-s.com.ar/pdf/kT%20vs%20Transport%20Properties.pdf
38