The influence of dynamic environmental conditions on capillary water uptake of building materials

Water capillary absorption is one of the main water uptake mechanisms in building materials, affecting their overall durability. Thus, the investigation of their capillary rise kinetics can be very useful as regards understanding buildings behavior, contributing to the increase of their durability and their service life. For this reason, a first-order mathematical model was used describing the capillary water uptake under dynamic environmental conditions (different air velocity, air temperature, and relative air humidity) for various natural and artificial building materials. This model successfully fits the experimental data. From the results, it was found that both building materials’ intrinsic characteristics and environmental conditions influence the capillary rise kinetics. In order to assess the validity of the proposed model, a comparison with a similar model was performed. The fitting of the utilized model was more accurate because of the incorporation of the environmental parameters into it. Finally, the proposed model was utilized in order to predict the capillary water uptake under hypothetical extreme weather real-case scenarios. It was found that the proposed model can successfully predict the capillary water uptake under different real-case environmental conditions. The applicability of this semi-empirical model, using parameters with physical meaning, could make it suitable for use in building simulators. This model can contribute to risk assessment tools, dealing with various challenges related to climate change and its effect upon built environment.

Remediation and Improvement of Concrete by Bacterial Mediated Carbonate Deposition

Bio-deposition has led to the exploration of remediation and improvement technique in the field of cementitious materials. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of bio-deposited carbonate on parameters affecting concrete properties and the effects of bio-deposition on the durability of concrete specimens. The remediation efficacy of cracks in concrete was studied through compressive strength test and flexural failure test. Water absorption and the resistance towards carbonation of concrete were analyzed by water absorptivity test and concrete accelerated carbonation test, respectively. Experimental results show that bio-deposition is able to make the improvement in concrete compressive strength and the remediation of cracks. Bacterial deposition of calcite on the surface of the concrete specimens results in a decrease of capillary water uptake and carbonation rate constant, and an increase in resistance towards degradation processes.

Microbial Carbonate Mineralization as an Improvement Method for Durability of Concrete Structures

Biodeposition treatment had been proposed as alternative techniques for improvement in the durability of concrete structures. Laboratory experiments were conducted by bacterially mediated carbonate precipitation on the surface and subsurface of specimens of concrete. Some properties of specimens and crystal, such as the crystal phase, morphology and growth of the crystal deposited on specimens, water penetration, the resistance towards carbonation of concrete and so on, were analyzed by XRD, SEM, water absorptivity test and concrete accelerated carbonation test. Some efficiencies of biodeposition treatment for were investigated by experiment. Results show that the mineral crystal deposits uniformly on the surface and subsurface of specimens, phases of crystal are calcite and vaterite. Biodeposition effectively reduces capillary water uptake and leading to carbonation rate constant decreased by 25~40%. Bacterially mediated carbonate mineralization can be an ecological and novel alternative for improvement in the durability of concrete structures.

Improvement of Concrete Materials by Bacterial-Mediated Precipitation

Microbial carbonate precipitation had been proposed as alternative technique for improvement in concrete materials. Laboratory experiments were conducted by bacterially mediated carbonate deposition on the surface and subsurface of concrete specimens. The crystal phase, morphology and growth of the crystal deposited on specimens as well as the efficiency of bonding and protection were analyzed by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and ultrasonic test. Water absorption and the resistance of carbonation of concrete were analyzed by water absorptivity test and concrete accelerated carbonation test, respectively. Results show that phases of crystal are calcite and vaterite. The crystals are deposited uniformly on the surface of specimens. Biodeposotion effectively reduces capillary water uptake and carbonation rate constant.

Effect of glutaraldehyde on water related properties of solid wood

Scots pine sapwood was treated with various concentrations of glutaraldehyde (GA) and magnesium chloride as a catalyst in aqueous solutions. The weight percent gains (WPGs) attained after leaching were 1.0%, 8.6%, 13.7%, and 21.9%, respectively. The treatments reduced the equilibrium moisture content at 90% RH up to 30% compared with the untreated controls. Capillary water uptake of wood was also restrained by GA treatment (8.6% WPG) resulting in water reduction effectiveness of approximately 50% in both radial and tangential direction after 244 h. Wood blocks treated to the highest WPG (22%) attained 70% anti-swelling efficiency (ASE). High ASE values were caused by cell wall bulking through incorporation of GA in the cell wall and as a result of reduction of the maximum degree of swelling in water, i.e., through crosslinking of cell wall polymers. During 10 water submersion and drying cycles, untreated and GA treated specimens displayed equal weight losses indicating that mainly wood constituents were washed out. These cyclic water submersion tests also caused approximately 10% reduction in ASE in samples treated to higher WPG. Magnesium chloride as a catalyst for the reaction of GA imparts wood similar water related properties as sulphur dioxide catalysis of GA treatment, but the application of MgCl2 is much easier to perform in practice.