The pore volume of each slab was determined prior to conducting
the laboratory experiments. Each dry slab was preweighed
and the pore volume was determined through displacement, where
the concrete slab was slowly and carefully lowered into a tub full of
tap water. The volume of the concrete matrix is responsible for the
water being displaced from the tub, thus the pore volume is the
residual of the total volume of the slab. The slabs were allowed
to drain then reweighed to determine the volume of water retained