Effect of Cracks on Hygric and Thermal Characteristics of Concrete

The effect of cracks on the moisture and heat transport and storage properties, basic physical properties and compressive strength of six different types of high performance concrete is analyzed in the paper. The cracks in the material specimens are randomly distributed, imposed by thermal treatment. Experimental results show that the presence of cracks affects all hygric and thermal parameters except for the specific heat capacity in quite a significant way. Also, the effects of microsilica addition and of the size and presence of aggregates are important. The liquid water transport is influenced by cracks, microsilica and aggregates in the most remarkable way, together with the compressive strength. Water vapor transport parameters, water sorption parameters, thermal conductivity and open porosity are also subject of significant changes and can indicate the damage induced by cracks with a sufficient sensitivity.