Measurement of Rate of Absorption of Water by Hydraulic-Cement Concretes

C1585-13: Standard Test Method for Measurement of Rate of Absorption of Water by Hydraulic-Cement Concretes

Understanding the ingress of water into concrete is fundamental to ensuring its long-term durability and performance. ASTM C1585-13 provides an essential, authoritative test method for quantifying this critical property, offering engineers and designers vital insights into concrete's susceptibility to water penetration. This proven standard is a cornerstone for assessing concrete's resilience in various environmental conditions.

What is C1585-13?

ASTM C1585-13, "Standard Test Method for Measurement of Rate of Absorption of Water by Hydraulic-Cement Concretes," originates from ASTM International and is a comprehensive procedure for determining how quickly concrete absorbs water when only one surface is exposed. Its primary purpose is to evaluate the sorptivity of concrete, a measure directly related to capillary suction and pore structure, which are key indicators of potential durability issues.

Scope & Purpose

This industry-leading standard governs the quantitative measurement of water absorption rate in hydraulic-cement concrete specimens. It specifically addresses the capillary absorption of water into unsaturated concrete by measuring the mass increase over time when a single surface is in contact with water, while other surfaces are sealed. The standard does not cover the total water absorption capacity of fully saturated concrete, nor does it directly assess the impact of hydrostatic pressure or permeability under sustained water exposure.

Who Must Comply?

• • Primary audience: Materials Engineers, Civil Engineers, Concrete Technologists, Quality Control Inspectors, and Research Scientists involved in concrete design, testing, and specification.
• • Industries affected: Construction, Infrastructure Development (bridges, dams, tunnels), Building Materials Manufacturing, Civil Engineering Consulting firms, and precast concrete producers.
• • Compliance nature: Primarily voluntary, but often specified in project requirements, material specifications, and quality assurance programs.
• • Enforcement: Compliance is typically checked by project owners, specifiers, independent testing laboratories, and internal quality control departments.

Key Requirements Overview

The standard requires that concrete specimens be conditioned to a consistent, unsaturated state before testing to ensure reliable sorptivity measurements. Professionals must ensure that only one surface of the prepared specimen is exposed to water, with all other surfaces effectively sealed to prevent extraneous water ingress. Key provisions include precisely measuring the mass of the specimen at specified time intervals as water is absorbed, and carefully controlling the environmental conditions during conditioning and testing.

Related Standards & References

ASTM C1585-13 frequently complements other ASTM standards crucial for concrete evaluation. For specimen preparation, Practices C31/C31M (Making and Curing Concrete Test Specimens in the Field) and C192/C192M (Making and Curing Concrete Test Specimens in the Laboratory) are essential. For evaluating concrete's overall porosity and absorption capacity, Test Method C642 provides a different, complementary approach by assessing bulk density and total absorption after oven-drying and immersion.