Storage, Transportation and Distribution

Fuel Flow in Concrete Around Joints at Petrol Stations

As part of the research project, the flow of petrol around joints at petrol station sealing surfaces made of FD-concrete in in-situ concrete construction was examined. According to the design principles of the approvals for LAU systems of the DIBt for joint sealants, there is a proof of flow of petrol around joints as a penetration depth in the concrete. At petrol stations with concrete surfaces, the characteristic penetration depth of petrol into a FD-concrete is mostly deeper than joint flank protected by joint sealant made of polysulfide. For this reason, the German Guideline DWA-A 781 "Technical Rule for Water-Proofed Substances (TRwS) - Petrol Stations for Motor Vehicles" has changed since 2018 the type of concrete for in-situ concrete roadways at petrol stations to a FDE-concrete. So far, there have been no studies on the flow behavior of fuels in the joint area of insitu concrete filling station areas made of FD concrete. In this research study, the flow behavior of petrol by penetration into FD-concrete at roadway joints was tested. The investigations have shown that there is no flow of petrol below the joints out of the concrete. Further investigations have shown, that there arises a vapor phase in the joint gap. The amount of liquid in the vapor phase was detected using various measurement methods.