Challenges, Opportunities and Solutions in Structural Engineering

and Construction Ghafoori (ed.)

2010 Taylor & Francis Group, London, ISBN 978-0-415-56809-8

Investigations on flexural behavior of high strength manufactured

sand concrete
V. Bhikshma, R. Kishore & C.V. Raghu Pathi
Department of Civil Engineering, University College of Engineering, Osmania University, Hyderabad, India

ABSTRACT: Sand is basic concrete making construction material required in large quantities. Hence, in the
present scenario, it is necessary to find the most suitable substitute for sand, easy to produce and has all the
required qualities for use in concrete. Manufactured sand is one among such materials to replace river sand,
which can be used as an alternative fine aggregate in mortars and concretes. To attain the set out objectives of the
present investigation, M50 grade concrete has been considered. Strength properties such as cube compressive
strength and flexural strength of beams, and load carrying capacity, moment carrying capacity, behavior of strains
in compression as well as tension fibers and cracking patterns have been studied for the grade of concrete. In this
paper a total of 15 cube specimens 150 150 150 mm and 10 beam specimens of size 1500 150 230 mm
were cast for testing. The results have been compared for the specimens made with natural fine aggregate.
1

INTRODUCTION

Construction has become technology oriented with

new and better materials and techniques being developed. In this quest, better materials and techniques in
construction have gained a strong foothold and found
wide applications. However, considerable research is
still to be done in the field of building materials to
reduce building costs further and improved structural
performance. Concrete is one of the versatile construction materials widely used by the industry. Continuous
research efforts have established concrete as a versatile
material. Conventionally concrete is a mix of cement,
fine and coarse aggregates. The use of manufactured
sand in concrete is gaining momentum these days. The
present experimental investigations have been made
on concrete using manufactured sand as fine aggregate and observed the effects of crushed manufactured
sand on strength properties of concrete.
1.1 Aims and objectives
1. To examine the workability of different percentages
of manufactured sand concrete and compare with
natural sand concrete.
2. To investigate the performance of different percentages of manufactured sand concrete beams in terms
of its load carrying capacity and moment carrying
capacity and compare with corresponding natural
sand concrete beams.
1.2 Scope of present investigation
Conventional concrete and M50 grade of concrete
from 25%, 50%, 75% & 100% of manufactured Sand

have been considered for casting concrete cubes and

beams. Also 30 concrete cubes and 10 reinforced
beams have been considered for M50 grade of concrete

LITERATURE REVIEW

Hudson reported that Concrete Manufactured with

a high percentage of minus 75 micron material will
yield a more cohesive mix than concrete made with
typical natural sand. Water absorption according to
Misra V.N., the percentage of water required to produce mortar of same consistency is high for Robo
sand as compared to river sand of same grading and
same mix proportions. Srinivasa Rao P. has found that
as percentage of stone dust increases the workability
decreases in each grade of concrete to compensate the
decrease in workability, some quantity of water and
cement were added to get normal workability. The
percentage of increase in water is in the range of 5%
to 7%. Bhanuprabha, observed that the percentage of
weight for M20, M25 and M30 grade manufactured
sand concrete increased in 5% H2 S04 and 5% Na2 S03
acid compared to plain concrete and found to be as
30.3%, 24.4%, 22.9%; and 5.3%, 2.2%,
1.25% respectively. The negative sign indicates less
reduction in weight loss that means the concrete is
slightly more durable to sulphuric acid attack and sulphate attack when compared to river sand. Srinivasa
Rao P., and Giridhar V. have observed that the concrete prepared using crusher stone dust was found
to be relatively less workable than those compared
with river sand. Hudson B.P. has reported that there
is considerable increase in the compressive strength

511

when concrete is made of higher amount of minus 75micron material. Comparing with natural sand, Srinivasa Rao.P has observed an increase in compressive
strength by 15% for M20 and M30 grades of concrete and by 1213% for M40 grade of concrete when
the concrete is made of stone dust. Giridhar V. has
observed that, for the concrete made with crusher dust,
there is an increase of 6% strength split tension and
an increase of 20% strength in flexural tensile tension
at 28 days for M20 grade design mix. Dinesh Khare
has reported that flexural tensile stress of the concrete
increases as percentage of Robo sand increases.
3
3.1

Table 1.

M50

Materials
Cement
Sand
Manufactured
sand
Coarse
aggregate
Water/Cement
ratio
Sp (ml)

EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAMME

Table 2.

Concrete mixing

All the materials required for making the concrete were

weighed as per the required proportion and kept ready
for use before the mixing started. Cement, Fine aggregate and coarse aggregate were mixed thoroughly in
the dry state. The water is added finally to the dry
mixture. Superplasticiser (SP 337) were mixed in the
water for M50 conventional and M50 grade using different proportions of Robo Sand. For M50 grade with
varying percentages of Manufactured sand (0%, 25%,
50%, 75% and 100%.) of concrete, the cross sections
of the beams adopted were 150 mm in width and
230 mm in depth. The length of the beam was 1500 mm.
The mix proportions adopted are presented in Table 1.
3.3

R.S.
0%

R.S.
25%

R.S.
50%

R.S.
75%

R.S.
100%

1
0.90

1
0.675

1
0.45

1
0.225

0.225

0.45

0.675

0.90

2.27

2.27

2.27

2.27

2.27

0.30
350

0.30
350

0.30
350

0.30
350

0.30
350

Materials used

Ordinary Portland cement of 53 grade confirming to

Bureau of Indian Standard is used in the present study.
Steel For longitudinal tensile reinforcement, 12 mm
and 10 mm dia tor steel and 6 mm dia mild steel
were used for stirrups. The locally available river sand
passing through IS sieve no: 480 was used as fine
aggregate. Manufactured sand (Robo Sand) used for
the present study was procured from M/S Robo Silicon Pvt. Ltd. from their plant near Hyderabad Andhra
Pradesh India. Test results are presented in Tables 24.
3.2

Mix proportions of concrete.

Physical properties of cement.

Tests conducted

Value obtained

Normal consistency
Initial setting time
Final setting time
Specific gravity of cement
Compressive strength 7 days
with natural sand
Compressive strength
28 days with natural sand
Compressive strength 7 days
with manufactured sand
Compressive strength
28 days with manufactured sand
Fineness
Bulk density of cement

32%
85 minutes
300 minutes
3.15

Table 3.

41.2 N/mm2
58.523 N/mm2
44 N/mm2
61.365 N/mm2
2%
1.35 gm/cc

Properties of steel.

Diameter

Proof stress

Percentage
elongation

Tor steel 12 mm dia

Tor steel 10 mm dia
Mild steel 6 mm dia

445 460
434 458
263 275

28
25
23

Compressive strength

Compressive strength of the various strength of concrete, the determination of compressive strength has
received a large amount of attention because the concrete is primarily meant to withstand compressive
stresses. Generally, cubes are used to determine the
compressive strength. In the present study the cubes
of 150 mm 150 mm 150 mm size are used.
3.4 Loading arrangements and testing procedure
The beams were mounted on the wing table of 200
tons universal testing machine in North-South direction.

The beams were simply supported on steel rollers

of 38 mm in diameter that were kept in specially
prepared moulds. The specimens were tested under
two-point transverse loading with simply supported
span of 1200 mm. An iron roller was kept between the
beam and UTM, at the two points of contact at a distance of 400 mm, so that the load transferred was like
two point loads. After fixing the deflection and strain
dial gauges to the beam specimens at the specified
points, uniform load was applied.

512

Table 4. Properties of fine and coarse aggregates.

Tests conducted
Specific gravity of fine aggregate
(Natural river sand)
Specific gravity of fine aggregate
(Manufactured sand)
Specific gravity of coarse aggregate
Compacted bulk density of
fine aggregate (sand)
Loose bulk density of fine
aggregate (sand)
Compacted bulk density of fine
aggregate (Manufactured Sand)
Loose bulk density of fine
aggregate(Manufactured Sand)
Compacted bulk density of coarse
aggregate
Loose bulk density of
coarse aggregate
Fineness modulus of fine aggregate
(sand)
Fineness modulus of fine aggregate
(manufactured sand)
Fineness modulus of coarse aggregate

4
4.1

Value obtained
2.53
2.65
2.75
17.59 kN/m3
17.03 kN/m3
18.36 kN/m3
17.03 kN/m3

Figure 1. Compressive strength variation with percentage

replacement of Robo Sand for M50 grade concrete.

15.40 kN/m3
14.13 kN/m3
2.68
2.701
6.251

TEST RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Reinforced concrete beams

The experimental investigation has been carried out to

study the behavior and strength of reinforced concrete
beams with manufactured sand and natural sand as
fine aggregate. For this purpose two beams each of
concrete with manufactured sand and natural sand for
each grade of concrete are tested under two point loading for pure bending and corresponding test results
have been shown in Table 3.
4.2

Figure 2. Relationship between load vs deflection for M50

grade concrete.

Load vs deflection relation

The performances of reinforced concrete members can

be reviewed from load vs. deflection curves. All the
specimen curves are presented in Figures 23.
4.3

Compressive strength of concrete using

manufactured sand as fine aggregate

It is observed from the Table that the seven days and

28 days cube compressive strength of concrete made
with manufactured sand improved the cube compressive strength by 6.89%, 10.76%, 17.24% and 20.68%
for M50 grade varying ratios respectively than the
concrete made with natural sand.
4.4

Strength of manufactured sand concrete beams

Ultimate strength of reinforced concrete beams in

terms of load carrying capacity and moment carrying

513

Figure 3. Relationship between load vs deflection for 100%

Robo concrete.

capacity: It is noticed that the ultimate strength of

manufactured sand concrete beams are slightly higher
than those compared with conventional concrete beams,
which is around 3 to 12% for M50 grade varying ratios
of concrete respectively.

Table 5.

Table 9. Test results of ultimate moment, curvature and

deflections.

Workability of concrete.
Workability

Type of fine
aggregate
Robo sand (0%)
Robo sand (25%)
Robo sand (50%)
Robo sand (75%)
Robo sand (100%)

Table 6.

Slump (mm)

Compaction
factor

55
48
44
41
38

0.87
0.83
0.80
0.75
0.72

Designation of beam specimens.

Beam
designation

Percentage of
reinforcement

No. of beam specimens

RS(0%)
RS(25%)
RS(50%)
RS(75%)
RS(100%)

2.04%
2.04%
2.04%
2.04%
2.04%

2
2
2
2
2

Details of reinforcement.

Beam designation

Reinforcement

RS 0% (M50 grade natural

sand concrete)

4 nos 12tor +2 nos

10tor Main Reinforcement
and 2L-6 mm mild @
150 mm c/c for stirrups
4 nos 12tor +2 nos
10tor Main Reinforcement
and 2L-6 150 mm c/c
for stirrups

RS 25%, RS 50%, RS 75%,

RS 100% M50 grade
manufactured sand
concrete)

Table 8.

Compressive strength of concrete.

Compressive
strength (MPa)

4.5

Ultimate
moment
(kNm)

Curvature
105

Deflection
(mm)

R.S. 0%
R.S. 25%
R.S. 50%
R.S. 75%
R.S. 100%

165
170
175
180

64
66
68
70
72

30.23
11.16
10.12
9.57
8.98

4.96
5.6
5.55
6.12
6.12

studied. It was observed that the deflection response

was slightly less for the same loading conditions when
compared with natural sand concrete beams. All test
results are presented in Tables 59.
5

M50 Grade, Letter R: Robo, S: Sand.

Table 7.

Mix pro.

Ultimate
load
(kN)

M50

7 Days

28 Days

R.S. 0%
R.S. 25%
R.S. 50%
R.S. 75%
R.S. 100%

40
45
48
49
51

58
62
65
68
70

Structural behavior manufactured sand

concrete beams

The load vs. deflection of manufactured sand concrete

beams for a particular grade of concrete and percentage of reinforcement, right up to the failure, have been

CONCLUSIONS

Workability of the M50 grade manufactured sand

concrete observed to be 30% less compared to the
conventional concrete.
The compressive strength of M50 grade concrete
with varying percentages of (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%,
and 100%) manufactured concrete improved the
strengths by 6.89%, 10.76%, 17.24%, 20.68%,
respectively.
The load carrying capacity and Moment carrying
capacity of the RC beams of manufactured sand
concrete obtained 3 to 12% when compared to conventional concrete.
Manufactured sand can be substituted in making
structural grade concrete, as it is giving satisfactory
performance.

REFERENCES
Bhanuprabha., Studies on use of manufactured sand as Fine
Aggregate M. Tech dissertation, submitted to JNTU,
Hyderabad, 2003, India.
Dinesh Khare., Marvelous properties of Stone Crusher dust:
A Waste bye-product of stone crushers, National conference on Advances of construction material, 2002, Hamirpur (H.P.), India. Pages 189 to 195.
Giridhar, V., Strength characteristics of concrete using
crusher stone dust as fine aggregate, 63rd Annual General meeting, 23rd December 2000, Hyderabad. Pages 11
to 15.
Hudson, B.P., Manufactured sand for concrete, ICJ, August
1999.
Misra, V.H., Use of Stone dust from crusher in cement and
sand Mortar ICJ, August 1984.
Srinivasa Rao, P., Seshagiri Rao, M.V. and Sravana., Effect
of crusher stone dust on some properties of concrete,
National conference on advances in construction materials, 2002, Hamirpur. (H.P. India pages 196 to 201).

514

Challenges, Opportunities and Solutions in Structural Engineering

and Construction Ghafoori (ed.)
2010 Taylor & Francis Group, London, ISBN 978-0-415-56809-8

Moisture permeability and sorption-desorption isotherms of some porous

building materials
R. Miniotaite
Kaunas University of Technology, Kaunas, Lithuania

ABSTRACT: The durability of surface layers of enclosures (outside walls of buildings) is highly influenced
by stresses that occur in the plane of contact between finishing materials and that of the enclosure. Variations of sorption moisture in the surface layer of enclosures result in deformations which have to be evaluated
together with sorption-desorption processes in the construction and expressed in specific moisture-caused deformation of construction material. The dependence of the basic building materials of enclosure constructions
upon change in material moisture with variation of relative humidity of the air was investigated by way of
experiments.
1

INTRODUCTION

Adsorption-desorption processes taking place in

construction materials basically indicate the nature
of mechanical, physical and molecular bond between
material and water or its vapour. In designing and construction practice, it is customary to relate adsorptiondesorption calculations with the air-dry materials.
Usually, the permitted moisture content, estimated
strength, thermal conductivity, swelling, shrinkage
and other physical and mechanical values are indicated
within the limits of material hygroscopic moisture (EN
ISO 12571 2000; Cerny et al. 1996; Lentinen 1996).
The following stages of material humidity state are
predetermined by adsorption-desorption processes:
material moisture content when the walls of capillaries and pores of the material are covered with
water molecules;
material moisture content when vapour is prevailing in pores and capillaries;
material moisture content at the beginning and during intense development of capillary condensation,
i.e. such air conditions are shown when water and
not vapour prevails in the capillaries of the material
maintained.
According to the physical data on the above stages,
one can judge about the ratio of moistening and drying velocities, destruction of the material in the area
of microcapillaries and micro-cracks, softening of
the material as well as swelling-shrinkage (moisturecaused) deformations and fatigue of the material
(Freitas et al. 1996; Carmeliet & Roels 2001; Bomberg
et al. 2001).

515

INVESTIGATION METHOD

The data on adsorption-desorption processes found in

literature are fragmentary, not exhaustive and characterize only the limit or typical values of the above
mentioned properties of some traditional materials
(Ramos & Freitas 2006; Hedenblad 1993; Carmeliet &
Roels 1996).
Standard methodics intended for determination of
adsorption-desorption were not exhaustive. They were
insufficient for investigation of adsorption-desorption
processes and therefore had to be essentially improved
in the course of investigation.
The main point of the developed adsorptiondesorption method is carrying out of experiments
in three stages (Miniotaite 1999a, b, 1998, 2004).
At the first stage, sorption isotherm of the investigative material is drawn at all 7 points of ambient air
humidity . At the second stage, a reverse action is
applied, i.e. desorption isotherm of the same specimen
is drawn. At the third stage, desorption process is at
some moment discontinued; coming back to sorption,
physical coordinates of such moment are fixed: relative humidity (RH) of ambient air and specimens
moisture content u.
When adsorption-desorption experiment at 20 C
temperature is completed, the investigated materials
are placed in a vessel and dried again; analogous experiment is carried out at 5 C.
It was found in literature only approximate data on
sorption moisture content of materials in case of temperatures below zero, even though surface layers of
walls are under action of the environment of temperatures below zero for a long period of time (on the

average, 100.3 days per year in Lithuania). With the

data on adsorption-desorption processes at 20 C and
5 C, rather precise recalculation of sorption moisture
content at low temperatures is possible on the basis of
Clausius-Clapeyrons equation:
d ln p
L
= 2
dT
RT

(1)

The integral of the above equation within the temperature range from T1 to T2 when L = const, permits
to calculate the pressure p1 :
ln p1 (T1 ) = ln p2 (T2 )

L
R

1
1

T1
T2


(2)

where: T = temperature, K; T1 < T2 ; L is heat of

phases change, J/mol. In general case it consists of
heat of evaporation, ice melting heat and adsorption
heat. Ice melting heat is used only for temperatures
below 0 C. R is universal gas constant, J/(K mol);
p is saturated vapour pressure, Pa; p1 < p2 . Sorption moisture content u are calculated of p values and
relative humidity values.
Adsorption-desorption investigations of the materials were carried out at 20 C and 5 C according to
the improved methods of sorption investigation. Then
sorption isotherms were recalculated in isotherms at
10 C, 0 C and 10 C.
3

RESULTS AND ANALYSIS

Graphic and summarized passports-cards of

adsorption-desorption investigations of all tested
materials are made up indicating a structural group of
the material corresponding to similarity of moisturecaused deformations, the name of material and the
main adsorption-desorption parameters. The passports-cards constitute a respective data bank on
adsorption-desorption of construction material.
A typical example of such a passport-card is given
in Figure 1. It should be noted that at temperatures
below zero significant difference between experimental results and literary data is observed. According to
literary sources, material moisture content u increases
with drop in temperature whereas according to experimental results, at high values of RH of the air and
temperature below 0 C, material moisture content u
is substantially less than that of isotherms at temperatures above 0 C.
Generalizing the nature of changes in adsorptiondesorption isotherms it was determined that no distinct limits exist between individual forms of material
humidity stateone humidity form gradually transfers to another and therefore consecutively expressed
isotherms of adsorption and desorption possess a

Figure 1. Adsorption-desorption isotherms of lime cement

plaster, = 1700 kg/m3 : experimental,  = 20 C;
calculated,  = 10 C, 0 C, 10 C.

flexible Sshaped view. Each material possesses

only for it characteristic such sorption curve.
More detailed examination of the curves showed
that triple moisture-material link exists. The length
corresponding to ambient air RH from 0% to 10%
is of a slowing rise. In this case, water vapour molecules
cover the walls of material pores and capillaries initially with the layer of monomolecular thickness and
then with the layer of multi-molecular thickness until
a water (aqueous) film is formed. Forces of molecular attraction act between the material and vapour
molecules, therefore, wet films acquire some properties of a solid body: they do not move or freeze easily
and would not evaporate at standard drying temperature  = 105 C. The length corresponding to ambient
air RH from (1012)% to 45% is still of a slowing
rise. Thus adsorbed, vapour molecules maintain thermodynamic equilibrium, move easily. If the pressure
of water vapour in capillaries of the material is higher
than ambient vapour pressure, they get evaporated at
105 C. The above processes also take place in the
length of a rising straight line from 45% to 55%. The
length corresponding to ambient air RH from 55%
to 100% is of a quickened rise, i.e. material moisture
content growth picks up speed. In this sorption area
the thermodynamic equilibrium of vapour molecules
is destroyed, because a part of vapour is condensed
in capillaries and capillary condensation starts. In the

516

length corresponding to ambient air RH from 58%

to (7580)% the above action is slow; in that wherein
humidity exceeds 80% the process is intense or very
intense. At this time, a part of the moisture contained in
the material is of a liquid aggregative state. The above
must be taken into consideration when calculating
moisture content and heat exchange in the walls. Thermal conductivity and moisture-caused deformations of
the material significantly increase in this sorption area.
The investigations indicated that in case of many
materials initial point of intense capillary condensation was rather distinct, however, in case of some
materials capillary condensation increase is approximately proportional to the increase in ambient RH
(, %). Material moisture content values (u, %) of the
end of intense capillary condensation and on the contraryof the beginning of intense evaporation (drying) practically coincide irrespective of hysteresis size
and ambient temperature with exception of negative
(below zero) temperatures.
3.1 Group of fine grained structure articles
The above group consists of cement plaster, lime
cement plaster, masonry mortar, silicate brick articles.
The value of maximum sorption moisture content
(umax ) is up to 6% (silicate brick). Figure 1 shows
adsorption-desorption isotherms of lime cement
plaster.
The maximum adsorption-desorption hysteresis
u up to 120% in comparison with sorption isotherm.
It corresponds to the range of RH of air = (7580)%
(fast moistening, slow drying).
The increase of material moisture content from temperature is up to 0.30 mass % when temperature drops
from 20 C to 10 C; RH = (4060)%.
3.2

Group of coarse grained structures articles

The above group consists of concrete and expandedclay concrete articles. The bonding substance is
cement.
The value of maximum sorption moisture content
(umax ) is up to 8% (expanded-clay concrete).
Figure 2 shows adsorption-desorption isotherms of
concrete.
The maximum adsorption-desorption hysteresis
u up to 95% in comparison with sorption isotherm.
It corresponds to the range of RH of air = (4070)%
(fast moistening, slow drying).
The increase of material moisture content from temperature is up to 0.50 mass % when temperature drops
from 20 C to 10 C; RH = (6075)%.
3.3

Figure 2. Adsorption-desorption isotherms of concrete,

= 2400 kg/m3 : experimental,  = 20 C; calculated,
 = 10 C, 0 C, 10 C.

bonding material has some specific features. When

cement is used as a bonding material, hysteresis of
adsorption and desorption is 2 times larger than in
case of lime use. The most favourable air humidity
() environment for the hysteresis of cement articles
is 75%; in case of lime articles 4060%. The above
phenomenon is also observed in case of the articles
of a different structure containing lime: use of lime
decreases the hysteresis and the most favourable environment for its formation is more dry ( 60%)
environment.
Summary of the investigation results:
maximum sorption moisture value (umax )up to
20%;
maximum adsorption-desorption hysteresis in case
of cement sub-group is in 7580% RH ()
environmentu up to +80%; in case of lime
sub-group4060% in the environment
u from +9 to +20% (fast drying);
the influence of temperature in the environment of
u 4080% RH () is practically the same and
does not exceed +12% (insignificant).
Figure 3 shows adsorption-desorption isotherms of
porous concrete.
3.4

Group of articles of porous structure

Group of ceramics

The value of maximum sorption moisture content

(umax ) up to 2.5% (Fig. 4).

This group consists of sub-groups of porous concrete

and porous silicate articles. The use of cement and lime

517

Figure 5. Adsorption-desorption isotherms of spruce, =

500 kg/m3 : experimental,  = 20 C; calculated,  = 10 C,
0 C, 10 C.

Figure 3. Adsorption-desorption isotherms of porous concrete, = 600 kg/m3 : experimental,  = 20 C; calculated,

 = 10 C, 0 C, 10 C.

The increase of material moisture content from temperature is up to 0.14 mass % when temperature drops
from 20 C to 10 C; RH = (5065)%.
3.5

Group of organic structure articles

This group consists of wood articles.

The value of maximum sorption moisture content
(umax ) up to 28% (Fig. 5).
The maximum adsorption-desorption hysteresis
u up to 25% in comparison with sorption isotherm.
It corresponds to the range of RH of air = (3080)%
(fast moistening, slow drying).
The increase of material moisture content from temperature is up to 1.8 mass % when temperature drops
from 20 C to 10 C; RH = (3080)%.
4

Figure 4. Adsorption-desorption isotherms of ceramics,

= 1700 kg/m3 : experimental,  = 20 C; calculated,
 = 10 C, 0 C, 10 C.

The maximum adsorption-desorption hysteresis

u up to 225% in comparison with sorption isotherm.
It corresponds to the range of RH of air = (6075)%
(fast moistening, slow drying).

CONCLUSIONS

It was proved by experimental investigations that characteristic points of sorption isotherms indicate the
beginning or the end of changes in the essential physical links of material and moisture. Specific parameters
of the above changesthe beginning and the end
of the process, intensity and linear moisture-caused
deformation of the material, moisture contentare
characteristic of each structural group of construction
materials.
The highest hysteresis in materials of fine structure
and porous concrete exists before the beginning of an
intense process of capillary condensation at relative
humidity of the ambient air = (7080)%. In case of

518

articles of fine-grained structure containing (3035)%

and more lime in its bonding material, the mark of the
highest hysteresis shifts to the left by (1015)%; in
case of coarse-grained materialsby (1520)% and
in case of materials of organic nature by (4050)%.
Temperature influence upon adsorption-desorption
process in case of all materials is the highest at relative
humidity of the air close to humidity of the beginning of capillary condensation. The absolute value of
temperature influence depends on the nature of the
framework of material. The above influence is highest
in case coarse-grained, porous and organic materials
(3035)%. In all cases, sorption moisture increases
with decrease in temperature. At high relative humidity values and temperature below 0 C, material moisture u is lower than in isotherms at temperatures above
zero.
The beginning of an intense capillary condensation
can be expressed rather clearly, or start gradually and
continue in a wide range of ambient humidity. The end
of an intense capillary condensation or the beginning
of intense capillary evaporation does not depend upon
the size of hysteresis or temperature.
REFERENCES
Bomberg, M.; Haghighat, F.; Grunewald, J. & Plagge, R.
2001. Capillary transition point as a material characteristic
for HAM models. In Proc. 4th Int. conf. on IAQ, ventilation and energy conservation in buildings, 1: 755762.
Carmeliet, J. & Roels, S. 1996. Moisture transfer and durability of open porous media. Proc. of 4th Symposium on
Building Physics in the Nordic Countries, 2: 587594.
Finland.
Carmeliet, J. & Roels, S. 2001. Determination of the isothermal moisture transport properties of porous building materials, Journal of Thermal Envelope & Building Science 24:
183210.

519

Cerny, R.; Drchalova, J.; Hoskova, S. & Toman, J. 1996.

Inverse problems of moisture transport in porous materials. In Proc. of Second ECCOMAS Conf. on numerical
methods in engineering: 664670. The Netherlands.
EN ISO 12571. 2000. Building materials. Determination of
hygroscopic sorption curves.
Freitas, V.P.; Abrantes, V. & Crausse, P. 1996. Moisture
migration in building wallsanalysis of the interface phenomena. In Building and Environment, 31(2): 99108.
Hedenblad, G. 1993. Moisture permeability of some porous
materials. In Proc. of 3rd Symposium on Building Physics
in the Nordic Countries, 2: 697702. Copenhagen.
Lentinen, T. 1996. Capillary moisture transfer in combined
porous building materials. In Proc. 4th Symposium on
Building Physics in the Nordic Countries, 2: 483490.
Finland.
Miniotaite, R. 1998. The durability of finish layers of external walls of buildings. In Proc. Conference on the subject of Construction and Architecture: 248253. Kaunas:
Technology.
Miniotaite, R. 1999a. Compatibility of finishing layer and
external surface of buildings walls from the standpoint
of durability. Doctoral Dissertation, Kaunas: Technology.
Miniotaite, R. 1999b. Compatibility of finishing layer and
external surface of buildings walls from the standpoint of
durability. Summary of the Thesis for a doctors degree.
Kaunas: Technology.
Miniotaite, R. 2004. Hygric properties of several building
materials. In Proc. The 8 International conference Modern
Building Materials, Structures and Techniques: 114119.
Vilnius: Technika.
Ramos, N. & Freitas, V. 2006. Evaluation strategy of finishing materials contribution to the hygroscopic inertia
of a room. Research in Building Physics and Building engineeringProceedings of the Third International
Building Physics Conference, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada: 543548.