Accelerated Expansion Test Sample Report: Switzerland

The Swiss method to determine the residual expansion of concrete from structures is based on the storage of cores in a container at 38 °C and 100 % relative humidity for half a year. First, the cores are conditioned at 20 °C for a week to reach water saturation. Afterwards, they are moved to the container. Length changes are recorded regularly. At the end of the test, the cores are dried at 20 °C and low relative humidity until they reach their initial mass before the start of conditioning. The length change during the storage in the container and the irreversible length change (length difference before conditioning and after drying at the end of the test) are used to assess the expansion kinetics of the concrete.