Experimental and Reproduction Analysis on the Time-Dependent Characteristics of Strength and Deformation Properties of Polymer Concrete Subjected to Humid Environment

It is known that the bending strength of polymer concrete decreases with increasing the water content due to water penetration. Therefore, the structural performance of the polymer concrete product like a manhole under service condition should be evaluated considering time-dependent change in mechanical properties of the polymer concrete according to water ingress. This study experimentally clarifies how the compressive, tensile, bending strengths and stress-strain relationship of the polymer concrete subjected to water penetration changes over time by means of the systematic acceleration laboratory test. It was found that the time-dependent change of the water content and associated strength and stress-strain relationship of the polymer concrete specimens and can be numerically simulated by water penetration analysis based on a diffusion mode and the assumption of the correlation between the local water content and the mechanical properties.