Effect of the ITZ Damage on Durability of Reinforced Concrete in Chloride Environment

This paper deals with the effect of the ITZ on the service life of reinforced concrete. In the case of reinforced concrete structures, the penetration of chlorides does not depend only on concrete transfer properties but also on the loading applied, on the state of strains and on the exposure to the aggressive environment.In order to take into account these different parameters, we have performed experiments on reinforced concrete elements, over a long period. The samples used have to be of an adequate size (3 meters long) and stored in a salt fog in a loading state so as to be representative of the actual operating conditions of the reinforced concrete structures.The bending of the beams leads to the development of cracks which are neither preceded nor accompanied by microcracks, but the cement paste-aggregate interfaces are damaged in the tensile areas.The service loading of reinforced concrete has two consequences : firstly, a cracking with widths ranging between 0.05 mm and 0.5 mm according to the intensity of the mechanical strength applied. Secondly, a damage of the ITZ in the tensile areas causing an increase of chloride penetration directly proportional to the intensity of the stress applied to the beam.The model of the development of corrosion, worked out in relation with time and based on our results, emphasizes the influence of the paste-aggregate interface damage on the duration of the service life.