Effect of carbonation on the rebound number and compressive strength of concrete

Abstract

Experimental research was performed to clarify the influence of carbonation on the rebound number and the strength evolution of concrete for three strength levels. The results reveal that the strength level dependent influence of carbonation is a source of errors in the existing equations for the strength reduction coefficient; these equations are used to compensate for the influence of surface carbonation in the rebound number method. A new equation for the strength reduction coefficient that can consider the influence of strength level was developed based on field test data extracted from technical reports of the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science and of four universities. Over a wide range of strength levels, the equation shows good agreement with strength reduction coefficients established experimentally. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.