Effects of Aging on Concrete Containment Structures: An Investigation of Shrinkage and Leakage

Abstract

While historically used for infrastructure such as buildings, bridges, dams, and roadways, concrete is also a vital component for the storage of energy – especially sources of renewable energy such as natural gas or nuclear. For these applications, the leak-tightness of concrete walls is important and is linked with effects of aging. Most research investigating the leak tightness of concrete structures is outdated and was performed without aging in mind. Additionally, while a large set of experiments have researched the effects of relative humidity on aging, very few have dealt with humidity levels below 40%. This thesis investigates the effects of very dry climates on the shrinkage of concrete and develops an experimental program for analyzing leakage of air through cracks in concrete walls that may develop due to aging processes.