Concrete Durability Field Testing - Durafield project

DURAFIELD-project (2007-2009 + long term period) is Finnish co-operation project with a budget over 450 000. This project will keep on and expand the work started in the previous field testing projects: EU 5th framework project CONLIFE (2001 - 04) and Finnish national project YMPBETONI (2002 - 04). In addition to the earlier field testing areas in southern and northern Finland (Otaniemi and Sodankylä) without de-icing salt exposure, one more testing area was established. It is located beside Highway 7 with de-icing salt exposure. 26 concrete mix designs with different cements or binder materials are included; future materials and mix designs can be included later on. Field testing (10-20 years) of frost-salt or frost scaling, internal frost deterioration, carbonation and chloride penetration without and partly also with protective impregnations or the use of form linings is performed. Weather data will be collected and long term variation of concrete temperature and relative humidity will be measured. Optical fibres are used to get concrete temperature and water content profiles.