Abstract

Twenty-four mortar mixes were tested to assess the effects of mix design factors on complex electrical resistivity. Of these mixes, six were conventional and 18 were conductive mixes, containing varying quantities of either graphite or carbon fibre powder additions, which have been shown in previous studies to reduce the resistivity of cementitous materials. Complex resistance measurements from 20 Hz to 10 MHz taken between 7 and 35 d after casting were analysed. Comparisons were made between the effects on complex resistivity of varying quantities of additions, water/cement ratio and grit/sand ratio. In conventional mixes, the water/cement ratio was found to have more significance for complex resistance than the grit/sand ratio. Conductive additions were found to reduce the magnitude of complex resistivity as well as the influence of other mix factors. This novel and comprehensive comparison of the effects of three elements of mix design on complex resistance will be of use to anyone wishing to produce mortars or concrete for use in self-heating, self-sensing, or electrical property imaging contexts.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)681-692
Number of pages12
JournalMagazine of Concrete Research
Volume72
Issue number13
Early online date15 Feb 2019
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 31 Jul 2020

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Civil and Structural Engineering
  • Building and Construction
  • General Materials Science

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'A multi-variable study of factors affecting the complex resistivity of conductive mortar'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this