ABSTRACT
Corrosion resistance against chloride attack and carbonation is essentially associated with electrical resistivity of cover concrete. This study explored numerical simulation on the evaluation of the resistivity of porous materials by FEM analysis. First, 3D model comprised of hardened cement paste and pores fully saturated with pore solution was modelled based on X-ray images taking into consideration the porosity analyzed by mercury intrusion porosimetry. And current flows via ionic conduction through the pores in hardened cement paste are simulated under steady-state condition. And then, the electrical resistivity is evaluated taking into consideration the cell constant in the cubic geometry of 3D model which is of cross section 200 μm each. Based on the results, electrical resistivity is found to be significantly influenced by the presence of connected pores in the hardened cement paste.
