Effect of Leaching Behavior on the Geometric and Hydraulic Characteristics of Concrete Fracture

The leaching of material from concrete fracture surfaces has an impact on the structural concrete in service, but the number of studies that consider the effect of the coupling of the leaching, fracture geometry and hydraulic processes on concrete fractures is insufficient. In this study, a series of experiments was conducted, and a leaching model proposed, to investigate the mechanism of leaching behavior on the geometric and hydraulic characteristics of concrete fractures. Following the leaching experiment, the evolution of fracture geometric characteristics was observed by a three-dimensional (3D) laser scanning technique, finding that the fracture produces residual leached depth and local uneven leaching, which results in a decrease in roughness. The hydraulic characteristics were then investigated by permeability tests, and it was found that the fracture hydraulic aperture and permeability increase monotonically with leaching time. A simulation of fluid flow in a numerical fracture revealed the effect of residual leached depth and a decrease in roughness on the hydraulic characteristics. Finally, based on the analysis of the chemical composition of the leaching solution, a leaching model of concrete rough fracture surface is proposed and the mechanism of leaching behavior is discussed. These new findings are useful for the understanding of the development of leaching, local to concrete fracture surfaces.