Reinforced concrete structures are among the most widely used structural systems in modern construction. Their durability depends, among other factors, on the quality and thickness of the concrete cover, the specified thickness of which is ensured during construction by reinforcement spacers. Since spacers remain permanently embedded in the concrete cover and represent a local discontinuity, they may affect its transport properties; however, this influence is still relatively poorly understood. The aim of this diploma thesis was to experimentally investigate the influence of spacers of different materials and geometries on the local transport properties of the concrete cover. Three types of spacers embedded in two different concrete mixtures were tested, together with reference specimens without spacers. Air permeability of the concrete cover was tested in accordance with SIA 262/1, and water penetration under pressure was determined in accordance with SIST EN 12390-8. The results showed that the presence of a spacer can locally increase the permeability of the concrete cover, with the magnitude of the effect depending on the type of spacer and the concrete mixture. Among the tested spacers, the highest average values obtained by both test methods were measured for the cementitious spacer D3. Its air permeability coefficient kT was approximately four times higher than that of the reference specimens, while for concrete mixture 2 the average water penetration depth was as much as 10.6 times greater. In all three specimens in this group, the water reached the reinforcing bar. The results of both test methods indicate that the spacer region may act as a local preferential transport path through the concrete cover. The selection of a spacer should therefore not be regarded merely as a construction detail, as it may affect the local protective performance of the concrete cover and consequently the durability of a reinforced concrete structure. However, due to the small number of specimens in each group, further research is required to provide a more reliable quantification of the influence of individual spacer types.
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