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TECHNICAL PAPER

(a) Specimens of 08 weeks exposure (b) Specimens of 12 weeks exposure (c) Specimens of 24 weeks exposure

(d) Specimens of 36 weeks exposure (e) Specimens of 52 weeks exposure
Figure 4: Acid attack specimens after 8, 12, 24, 36, and 52 weeks of exposure

coarse aggregate, hence less mortar is exposed between coarse CC. Due to removal of cement paste with fine aggregate, the
aggregates and rate of reduction of weight is slightly reduced. coarse aggregates exposed. In CC due to removal of mortar
In sulphate attack no erosion has been observed on the surface between coarse aggregate, the plane surface get removed and
of the specimen. After one year of exposure of sulphate solution load cannot apply uniformly on the loading face of the cube.
the maximum average weight loss in all the mixes of GPCT, The erosion is clearly visible on the surface of the specimens of
GPCA and CC is observed as 0.84, 2.56 and 11.07 %. Similarly acid attack. The surface erosion of the specimens under acid
in case of acid attack the average weight loss of all the mixes of attack are shown in Figure 4. Similarly the visual appearance
GPCT, GPCA and CC is observed as 12.69, 17.07 and 28.80 % of specimens of sulphate attack are shown in Figure 5. In CC
respectively. it is found that the rate of decrease of strength due to acid
attack increase due to increase the quantity of cement in the
From Table 7, Table 8 and Figure 10 to Figure 13, it is observed mix I to mix L. In CC due to removal of mortar between coarse
that the strength reduces with increase in exposure period. aggregate due to acidic exposure, the plane surface get
After four weeks up to the twelve week of acidic exposure the removed and load cannot apply uniformly on the loading face
rate of decrease of strength is greater than the after twelve of the cube. After 52 weeks of acidic exposure it is found that
weeks. The decrease in strength in CC is higher than GPCA the specimens of GPCT and GPCA produce more strength by
and GPCT. It is found that the GPCT produce more resistance 21 and 11.28 % than specimens of CC respectively. In acidic
than GPCA and CC to acid attack. Due to presence of OPC in exposure the average strength of specimens of GPCA reduce
GPCA the acid attack is little higher than GPCT but less than by 9.72 % than GPCT due to addition of OPC as curing agent. In

(a) (b) (c)
Figure 5: Specimens after 36 weeks exposure of sulphate water

72 THE INDIAN CONCRETE JOURNAL | FEBRUARY 2026