The sensitivity of Acoustic Emission (AE) for monitoring the effect of SAPs in fresh concrete

¹ Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Mechanics of Materials and Constructions, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
² Ghent University, Department of Structural Engineering and Building Materials, B-9052 Ghent, Belgium
³ Université Libre de Bruxelles, BATir Department, B-1050, Brussels, Belgium

^* Corresponding author: eleni.korda@vub.be| eleni.korda@ugent.be

Abstract

Fresh concrete is characterized by numerous processes taking place simultaneously such as settlement, hydration, early-age cracking and shrinkage. Those processes have a strong impact on the strength and durability, hence monitoring the material at an early stage is essential to ensure the required performance. Acoustic Emission (AE) is a non-destructive, highly sensitive technique that records elastic waves propagating through the medium and has proven to be adequate to monitor the complex processes taking place at an early age. In this study, the method of AE is applied on fresh concrete cubes with or without the addition of SuperAbsorbent Polymers (SAPs). SAPs are particles that have been recently used for internal curing or self-healing of cementitious materials. The water-releasing action of SAPs is accompanied by high AE activity. The purpose of this study is to investigate the possibility to control the internal curing of concrete based on real-time AE data, as well as to make projections towards the final mechanical properties while still at a young age, in order to ensure the desired concrete performance.