Chloride penetration in anchorage concrete of suspension bridge during construction stage

Abstract

Steel corrosion in embedded steel causes a significant durability problems and this usually propagates to structural degradation. Large-scaled concrete structures, PSC (Pre-stressed Concrete) or RC (Reinforced Concrete) structures, are usually constructed with mass concrete and require quite a long construction period. When they are located near to sea shore, chloride ion penetrates into concrete through direct or indirect exposure to marine environment, and this leads durability problems. Even if the structures are sheltered from chloride ingress outside after construction, the chloride contents which have been penetrated into concrete during the long construction period are differently evaluated from the initially mixed chloride content. In the study, chloride profiles in cores extracted from anchorage concrete block in two large-scaled suspension bridge (K and P structure) are evaluated considering the exposure periods and conditions. Total 21 cores in tendon room and chamber room were obtained, and the acid-soluble chlorides and compressive strength were evaluated for the structures containing construction period around 3 years. The test results like diffusion coefficient and surface chloride content from the construction joint and cracked area were also discussed with the considerations for maintenance.