Abstract
This present study concerns modelling of chloride penetration in partially saturated concrete. To mimic the intermittent exposure of sea water to concrete, varying environmental conditions for relative humidity and chloride concentration were considered. As for the moisture distribution in concrete, statistical permeability model based on pore size distribution was used to represent influence of material properties on moisture transport. Then, a combined chloride diffusion and convection was modelled in variation of moisture level in concrete. As a result, smaller relative wet duration induces higher rate of chloride penetration due to enhanced moisture permeability from the surface, and also higher concentration gradient near the surface of concrete due to repeated wet/dry cycle. This implies that only diffusion analysis on chloride induced corrosion in concrete structure may underestimate the serviceability in given material performance.
Highlights
Chloride penetration in reinforced concrete structure has been regarded as a big problem in the service life design
This study aims to develop a model for predicting chloride transport in concrete, submitted to intermittent chloride exposure
The relation of relative humidity and degree of saturation under wet/dry cycle can be determined using the Eq 5 and 6. This implies that most of moisture flow occurs through gel and small capillary pores
Summary
Chloride penetration in reinforced concrete structure has been regarded as a big problem in the service life design. Predicting the chloride ingress in concrete structure exposed to a saline environment is essentially required to prepare a proper maintenance and reduce such high risk of chloride induced corrosion. For this purpose, many of modelling works have been carried out based on the Fick’s law of chloride diffusion. Most of concrete structures, built in chloride laden environment such as the bridge pier with tidal zone and load pavement with deicer supply, have been experiencing intermittent chloride exposure Those conditions, compared with the case for constantly immersed structure in saline water, impose more severe degradation to the concrete durability [2, 3] and difficult to be assessed by using only the conventional diffusion analysis
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
