Apparatus for accelerated degradation testing of concrete specimens

To simulate chemical degradation of concrete in an automated and standardized way, an apparatus for accelerated degradation tests was developed. Because alternated wetting and drying often accelerate concrete degradation, cylindrical test specimens are subjected to a cyclic procedure of turning through an aggressive solution and drying by air. After every attack cycle the test specimens are brushed with rotary brushes to simulate mechanical abrasion. The degradation of the concrete, in terms of change of the dimensions of the test specimens, is determined by means of a non-contact distance measurement with laser sensors. Out of the measured data the change of the cylinder radius and the surface roughness are calculated. To illustrate the test procedure, experimental results concerning sulfuric and lactic/acetic acid degradation are provided.