Porosity Evaluation of Concrete Containing Supplementary Cementitious Materials for Durability Assessment through Volume of Permeable Voids and Water Immersion Conditions

Concrete containing supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) as partial replacement of ordinary Portland cement is regarded as green and durable concrete, with several advantages such as improved strength gain mechanism, resistance to degradation and extended service life of structure. Water absorption or porosity of concrete is directly related to the durability of concrete. In this present study, five concrete mixes involving three different SCMs are investigated for water absorption and rapid chloride penetration rating. A comparison between porosity values obtained using four standard testing methods, i.e., BS 1881-122, RILEM CPC 11.1, RILEM CPC 11.3, and ASTM C642 are presented for three different concrete mixes containing varied compositions and proportions of two SCMs. The testing method by RILEM CPC 11.3 includes distinctive sample preparation and is regarded as a stringent method to represent the degree of concrete porosity. Two additional concrete mixes with three SCMs are further investigated for their water absorption and immersion following the testing method by RILEM CPC 11.3. The impact of SCMs on concrete porosity is discussed. A linear correlation between porosity and rapid chloride penetration (RCP) ratings obtained as per ASTM C1202-19 on specimens of all investigated concrete mixes is proposed as a rapid approach to assess chloride penetration of concrete specimens containing SCMs.

Study on the Durability of Road Concrete with Blast Furnace Slag Affected by the Corrosion Initiated by Chloride

In order to assess the resistance of the road concrete to the penetration of the chloride ions, we used the rapid test RCPT in compliance with ASTM C1202. But, in order to increase the reliability of the rapid test of assessing the resistance of chloride ions’ permeability through measurements of the electrical conductivity, after finishing the RCPT test, we have also measured the depth of the chloride front migrating in the concrete. Road concrete mixtures were prepared in which blast furnace slag (GGBS) was incorporated as a binder and blast furnace slag (ABS) as crushed slag aggregate to the size of 0/4 mm. The effect of the blast furnace slag on the RCPT results was investigated and correlated with porosity trends, carbonatation layer depth, and with the compression strength values, by comparison with the level of results obtained on concrete mixtures made with conventional materials. The measurement of the migrated chlorine front in the concrete together with the determined physical and mechanical characteristics confirms the efficiency of the blast furnace slag incorporated in the concrete and supports the reliability of the rapid penetration test of chlorine ions RCPT using the procedure from ASTM C 1202.

Analysis of Chloride Penetration Into High Performance Concrete

Corrosion of reinforcement is one of basic destruction mechanisms of reinforced concrete structures. In that sense, the most affected structures are those by the sea, especially their parts subjected to cycles of wetting and drying. Chlorides penetrate to concrete mostly by diffusion, faster if the concrete is more permeable, destructing reinforcement passive protection and causing its corrosion, reduction of reinforcement cross section and bearing capacity of the structure. Retardation of chloride corrosion that causes structure degradation in marine environment can be achieved by the usage of quality concrete with enhanced strength and permeability parameters in regards to ordinary concrete. Mixes of ordinary and high performance concrete with different ratio of silica fume have been made. Compressive strength and resistivity to chloride penetration have been tested on the specimens 28 days after mixing. The resistivity to chloride penetration has been determined by fast chloride penetration test according to ASTM C1202 standard, using appliance that measures electrical conductivity of concrete specimens. Based on test results, the suitability of building reinforced concrete structures by the sea using high performance concrete has been analysed.

Evaluation of the chloride penetration and service life of self-healing concretes activated by crystalline catalyst

The main cause of concrete structures deterioration is related to the resistance against the penetration of aggressive agents. Aiming at increase the impermeability and reduce the diffusivity of concrete elements, making it less susceptible to the ingress of chloride ions, the use of crystalline catalyst emerges as a good alternative. Its mechanism of autogenous healing enhances the natural pore-filling process of concrete. The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of the use of crystalline catalyst on the chloride ions penetration and service life prediction of concrete. For the concrete mixtures production, it was used blast-furnace slag blended cement, three different water/cement (w/c) ratios (0.45; 0.55; 0.65), with and without crystalline catalyst, totaling six different mixtures. The concrete specimens were cured in a moist chamber and tested at 28 and 91 days. It was performed tests of compressive strength, rapid chloride permeability (ASTM C1202:12), and silver nitrate colorimetric indicator. The results show that, compared to the reference mixture, the use of crystalline catalyst conserved the compressive strength and reduced the chloride ions penetration up to 30%, increasing service life up to 34%.

Técnicas aceleradas para evaluar la susceptibilidad a corrosión de aceros embebidos en morteros con adiciones minerales expuestos a cloruros

Este artículo estudia el comportamiento a la corrosión de morteros reforzados de cemento portland, sin adiciones y con adiciones de metacaolín (MK) y humo de sílice (SF), en presencia de cloruros. La proporción de la adición utilizada en las mezclas fue del 10% en peso como reemplazo del cemento. Se prepararon prototipos sin y con acero de refuerzo. En los primeros se determinó la resistencia a la compresión, absorción, porosidad, y permeabilidad a los cloruros. Las probetas de mortero reforzado se expusieron a cloruros (NaCl 3,5%) y se aplicaron dos técnicas aceleradas de corrosión: ciclos de humectación-secado y voltaje impreso; en ambos casos se utilizó como ambiente de referencia agua potable. El avance del proceso de corrosión en el acero se evaluó mediante la técnica electroquímica de resistencia a la polarización lineal (LPR). Los resultados mostraron que tanto a 28 como a 90 días de curado, las adiciones aumentan la resistencia a la compresión del mortero y contribuyen positivamente a reducir la susceptibilidad del material cementicio a la permeabilidad de cloruros. De las adiciones evaluadas, se destaca el desempeño mecánico de la mezcla con 10% de MK, representado en un incremento del 51,9% respecto a cemento Portland ordinario (OPC). Los coeficientes de absorción capilar de los morteros adicionados fueron hasta un 31% menores que los correspondientes de OPC, lo cual coincide con la reducida permeabilidad a cloruros (≤ 1000 coulombios) evaluada con base en la Norma ASTM C1202. Respecto a los resultados de corrosión se aprecia la misma tendencia de comportamiento en las mezclas, independientemente de la técnica acelerada utilizada. El mejor desempeño corresponde a la mezcla que contiene MK, seguido de SF y OPC. Cabe anotar, que la corriente de corrosión en los prototipos OPC es reducida hasta en un 90% al incorporar MK. De las técnicas aceleradas empleadas en el presente estudio se sugiere utilizar la de voltaje impreso debido al corto tiempo de obtención de los resultados.

Research on the Durability of Reinforced Chemically Bonded Ceramics-Based Concrete Structural Members in Marine Environment

In order to study the durability of reinforced chemically bonded ceramics-based concrete structural members in marine environment, both the experiment of chloride ion permeability-resistance and rapid corrosion experiment of rebar in the CBC concrete were conducted. The methods of ASTM C1202,RCM and NEL were used to comprehensively assess the ability of chloride ion permeability-resistance of CBC concrete, electric flux and unsteady migration coefficients were taken as estimate indexes, while in the rapid corrosion experiment of rebar under the condition of immersing-drying circulating, rusty accumulation rate and weight loss ratio were taken as estimate indexes. The results of experiments indicate that CBC concrete has strong resistibility for chloride ion penetration, however, it cannot protect the internal rebar effectively, for the reason that the rebar in this test has been seriously corroded.

Corrosion Resistance of 50 Years Concrete Exposed to Saline Areas

The Hong Run petrochemical oil depot is located in a saline area in the north of Weifang, where the contents of chloride and sulfate in this area are very high. Due to the rigorous environmental conditions, concrete with 50 years durability and C40 strength grade was prepared. A kind of corrosion resistance concrete with high performance superfine mineral powder and high performance pumping agent was developed to adapt to the conditions in saline areas. The chloride-penetration resistance ability was investigated by the test of chloride ion rapid electric transport (ASTM C1202). The concrete compressive strength and mortar expansion rate under continuous immersion in four different corrosion solutions was studied. The results showed that the chloride-penetration grade is very low. The compressive strength is high and the mortar expansion rate lower than 0.1%.

On the Time Dependency of the Chloride Diffusion in High Performance Concrete

The chloride diffusion coefficient of concrete is time dependent. The high performance concrete (HPC) was prepared and the specimens were tested by ASTM C1202 and the durability of HPC in long period is analyzed with the time dependency of diffusion in this paper. The results show that the chloride diffusion coefficients of the HPC with only fly ash are large than those of the HPC with multi-admixtures, but the attenuation of the chloride diffusion coefficients of the formers are faster than the latters. The analysis results show that the chloride concentrations in concrete is over estimated when time-dependence of chloride diffusion is not considered, and the durability of concrete in long period is determined by both chloride diffusion coefficient and age factor.