Development of simplified approach to model the moisture transfer in building materials

ABSTRACT A simple but effective gravimetric method for determining the moisture diffusivity of concrete and cement paste is given in this paper. The method allows calculating the moisture diffusion coefficient and moisture distribution inside building materials purely based on the isothermal gravimetric measurements. The method was also applied to research into the properties of concrete and cement paste. Results indicate that the increase of water-cement ratio in the cement pastes will result in an increase of moisture diffusion coefficient. Furthermore, the experiment also points out the fact that moisture coefficient of concrete based on cement with fly ash additions is lower than that of concrete with OPC.