Laser scabbling of concrete is the process of removal of surface material using a high power laser beam. The main aim of this investigation was to establish an experimental procedure for assessing the effects of various parameters that may be critical for the effectiveness of the process, such as material composition and initial moisture content. The study shows that the key characteristics of the process can be detected by monitoring surface temperature variations. This experimental procedure is used to provide data on the effects of each parameter to explain the mechanisms that drive the process. The results suggest that scabbling is mainly driven by pore pressures in the cement paste, but strongly affected by other factors. Reducing permeability by adding PFA to the cement paste resulted in significant increase in volume removal; but reducing moisture content by air-drying of the material did not result in the expected reduction in volume removal.

Laser concrete scabbling is the process by which the surface layer of concrete may be removed through the use of a low power density laser beam. The main aim of this investigation was to establish relationships between laser interaction time and volume removal for a wide range of material compositions, including different w/b ratios, binder compositions (OPC/PFA), aggregate/binder ratios and coarse aggregate sizes. The results show that 25% replacement of ordinary Portland cement with pulverised fuel ash and/or a reduced water/binder ratio improves the efficiency of scabbling of cement pastes. Mortars and cement pastes were seen to scabble at a constant rate, whereas concretes experienced a peak rate, after which volume removal reduced dramatically. Basalt aggregate concrete was less susceptible to laser scabbling than limestone aggregate concrete. The effects of composition on the mechanisms which drive laser scabbling are discussed. It is suggested that pore pressure spalling governs behaviour in cement pastes, and thermal stress spalling is more dominant in mortar specimens. The driving force responsible for laser scabbling of concretes is developed within the mortar.

Laser scabbling of concrete is the process by which the surface layer of concrete may be removed through the use of a low power density laser beam. Previous research has suggested that the driving force responsible for laser scabbling is developed within the mortar. The aim of this investigation was to establish the key parameters that influence laser scabbling of mortars. The results show that the removal of free water from mortars prohibits scabbling, but resaturation allows mortar to scabble. A reduced permeability, either due to a reduction in the water/binder ratio or the use of 25% PFA replacement, enhances the scabbling. A higher fine aggregate content increases volume removal and fragment sizes during laser scabbling.

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