Nrmca Lab Joins $1.2 Million Permeability Test Procedure Study

The National Ready Mixed Concrete Association Research Laboratory in College Park, Md., has become a partner in Evaluation of Test Methods for Permeability

CP STAFF

The National Ready Mixed Concrete Association Research Laboratory in College Park, Md., has become a partner in Evaluation of Test Methods for Permeability (Transport) and Development of Performance Guidelines for Durability, whose findings are expected to help promote performance-based specifications for concrete. Investigators in the four-year undertaking will evaluate existing permeability (transport) test procedures; develop new methods to evaluate permeability (transport) properties of concrete; draw correlation between permeability (transport) properties and measured material response to existing durability tests; and, develop guidelines to relate permeability, exposure conditions and field performance for use in specifications and quality control processes.

The investigation is a Pooled Fund Study (PFS) sponsored by the Indiana Department of Transportation and peer groups. The NRMCA lab is a PFS partner and subcontractor to project contractor Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind. The PFS broadens the scope of another NRMCA lab project, An Evaluation of Performance-Based Alternatives to the Durability Provisions of the ACI 318 Building Code, funded by the Portland Cement Association and the RMC Research & Education Foundation.

The NRMCA research team will collaborate with IndianaDOT’s Dr. Tommy Nantung; Purdue Professors Jason Weiss and Jan Olek; and, University of Toronto Professor Doug Hooton, who will serve as a consultant to NRMCA. A study advisory committee will involve participating DOTs and the Federal Highway Administration. Additional study information can be obtained from NRMCA Director of Materials Research Karthik Obla, 240/485-1163 or [email protected].