Abstract
This paper attempts to analyse results from the standard test methods employed for sulphate attack and evaluates their correlations, consistency and contrasts, as well as physical observations. Data from expansions and mass change of 25 x25 x 285 mm mortar prisms and 75 x 75 x 285 mm concrete prisms were used. Mortar mixtures consisted of 1: 2.25: 0.5 cement to sand to water while concrete mixtures were of water-cementitious ratio (w/cm) of 0.45, 0.50, 0.65. Mixtures were made using CEM I 42.5N with or without 30, 50, 70% ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) and stored in sodium sulphate solutions of 28 g/L and 50 g/L as SO4. Results show that ASTM C 1012 mortar expansion criteria of 0.10% corresponds to 1.2% mass gain. Similarly, concrete prism expansion criteria of 0.05% is equivalent to 0.75% mass gain. It is proposed that in
the absence of expansion monitoring, the use of mass gain criteria of 1.2% mass in
mortar prisms or 0.75% in concrete prisms may be sufficient for evaluating sulphate attack.