Some aspects of evaluation of concrete through mercury intrusion porosimetry

Through an experimental investigation, statistical distribution of three identified parameters of mercury intrusion porosimetry which are closely related to the strength and performance of concrete, have been worked out. It has been demonstrated that distribution of these three parameters are normal for different mix proportions of concrete. The minimum number of samples to be tested while evaluating performance of concrete through these parameters of mercury intrusion porosimetry have been estimated using the experimental data for various permissible errors at 95% confidence level. Further, the number of samples to be tested for permissible errors to be within 15% of the true value are also suggested. In the second part of the paper an investigation on the form of sample to be adopted for MIP study of in-situ concrete has been presented, whereby it has been demonstrated that it is preferable to use mortar adhered with aggregate, rather than mortar devoid of aggregate from the same parent in-situ concrete. Copyright (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.