A critical review of 100 years of permeability tests for the sustainability of concrete structures

This study presents a critical historical review of one century of methods, results and regulations concerned with permeability testing of concrete and other stone building materials, keeping under a magnifying glass the triad of factors invasiveness-reliability-insight with the objective of scouting the feasibility of a near-zero-invasiveness practice, alternative to some recent standards. This practice is herein proposed for integrating actions of surveying, sampling and watertightness testing of a concrete cover object of a life cycle appraisal in a reinforced concrete structure for possible replacement from a perspective of sustainability and evaluated on a historical documental basis. Two main conclusions of this study are: the feasibility, on a historical documental basis, of cutting specimens for permeability testing from thin regions of concrete cover, and the great importance for the decision-maker to have access to sufficient diagnostic data suitable to let her/him discern the self-sealing or self-unsealing nature of the concretes under investigation.