Challenges and opportunities for assessing transport properties of high-performance concrete

In this paper, a review of techniques is given so that both, the challenges and opportunities for assessing transport properties of high-performance concrete, are highlighted. A knowledge of performance of structural concrete is required for design and compliance purposes. One driving force for the use of high performance concretes (HPC) is enhanced durability yet it would be wrong to assume that all HPCs can deliver the desired performance level. In situ characterisation of the permeation properties of concrete is the most viable means for assessing durability and has become increasingly important over the past 20 years. A variety of methods exist that provide a range of parameters, e.g. air permeability, water absorption rate, sorptivity and chloride migration coefficient.