Abrasion Resistance of Concrete in Hydraulic Structures

In this paper, the phenomenon of concrete abrasion in hydraulic structures, which is caused by the abrasion process resulting from the sediment carried by water is analyzed. The adequacy of the laboratory procedure for the definition of the level of concrete abrasion in standard ASTM C1138 hydraulic structures was investigated in detail. This was assessed based on a comparison between laboratory results and measurements of abrasion resistance of concrete under natural conditions by performing test plots in the stilling basin of the Vrhovo hydro power plant (HPP). The concrete built in the evacuation structures of the HPP on the Lower Sava River was tested for adequacy. The basic composition of concretes was modified by polymer or pozzolanic additives along with the primary binder steel fibers, polypropylene fibers, and granular rubber The analysis showed a qualitative similarity of the level of abrasion of concrete between laboratory simulations and measurements in the field, as well as suitability, of the ASTM C1138 laboratory method for the assessment of abrasion resistance of concretes in the spillway of the HPP chain on the Lower Sava River. The quantitative comparison of results showed a good correlation between the laboratory measurements and measurements in the natural environment for the concrete at 900 days, whereas for the concrete at 90 days, this correlation was not confirmed.