• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.5A
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• pp.737-746
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• 2008

Recently, NDTs (Non-Destructive Techniques) using electromagnetic(EM) properties are applied to the performance evaluation for RC (Reinforced Concrete) structures. Since nonmetallic materials which are cement-based system have their unique dielectric constant and conductivity, they can be characterized and changed with different mixture conditions like W/C (water to cement) ratios and unit cement weight. In a room condition, cement mortar is generally dry so that porosity plays a major role in EM properties, which is determined at early-aged stage and also be affected by curing condition. In this paper, EM properties (dielectric constant and conductivity) in cement mortar specimens with 4 different W/C ratios are measured in the wide region of 0.2 GHz~20 GHz. Each specimen has different submerged curing period from 0 to 28 days and then EM measurement is performed after 4 weeks. Furthermore, porosity at the age of 28 days is measured through MIP (Mercury Intrusion Porosimeter) and saturation is also measured through amount of water loss in room condition. In order to evaluate the porosity from the initial curing stage, numerical analysis based on the modeling for the behavior in early-aged concrete is performed and the calculated results of porosity and measured EM properties are analyzed. For the convenient comparison with influencing parameters like W/C ratios and curing period, EM properties from 5 GHz to 15 GHz are averaged as one value. For 4 weeks, the averaged dielectric constant and conductivity in cement mortar are linearly decrease with higher W/C ratios and they increase in proportion to the square root of curing period regardless of W/C ratios.