Accelerating Tests for the Performance Deterioration of Concrete Exposed to Chloride Media

Abstract

Chloride attack is one of the most severe durability problems for the marine concrete structures. The natural process of chloride ingress in concrete takes long time. Artificial environmental simulating tests were developed to shorten the testing duration. However, the control parameters of the artificial environment didn’t have unique design principles. In this study, two types of accelerating test system and two exposure sites are adopted. These two systems had different wet-dry cycle intervals and belonged to Zhejiang University and Port and Airport Research Institute (PARI, Japan). The exposure sites were located in Hangzhou Bay Bridge and PARI respectively. A group of concrete specimens were put in those four places for accelerating testing and natural exposing. The chloride concentration distribution in each specimen was measured and the chloride resistance of the concrete under each environment was evaluated. Based on the testing results, the accelerating rate of the artificial environment to the practical exposure environment was discussed. In addition, the influence of the artificial environmental effects on the performance deterioration accelerating of the concrete was discussed. This study could be referred to design an ideal artificial environment accelerating tests.