Permeation describes the process of movement of fluids through the pore structure
under an externally applied pressure and the pores are saturated with the fluid.
Permeability is therefore a measure of the capacity for concrete to transfer fluids by
permeation.
converted to a linear relationship between the logarithm of the ratio of pressure head Vs time,
from which the DArcy coefficient of permeability (k) is determined.
wVgd Po
k
ln
RA t P
Where,
k coefficient of permeability (m/s)
w molecular mass of permeating gas (kg/mol)
V volume of the pressure cylinder (m3)
d thickness of the specimen (m)
R Universal gas constant (Nm/K mole)
A C/S area of the specimen (m2)
absolute temperature (K)
t time (s)
Po pressure at start of test (kPa)
P Pressure at time t (kPa)
The coefficient of permeability (k) is a clumsy exponential number and therefore is simplified by
defining the oxygen permeability index (OPI):
OPI = -log10 k