Time/depth dependent diffusion and chemical reaction model of chloride transportation in concrete

Abstract

This study focuses on the physical and chemical processes that control the transport of chloride ions into concrete structures. An analytical solution of a diffusion reaction model is presented for determining the time/depth dependent chloride diffusivities considering both diffusion process and binding mechanism of chloride occur simultaneously. The diffusion-reaction model, which is based on the Fick’s second law of diffusion and a mathematical formulation for an irreversible first-order chemical reaction, is used to precisely describe the diffusion mechanism of chloride diffusion process. When the chemical reaction is considered, the free chloride concentration is slowly reduced since some of the free chloride ions have reacted with cement paste such that the diffusion coefficient is also reduced simultaneously. The diffusion-reaction model predicts a longer service life than the total and free chloride diffusion models that do not consider the effect of the chemical reaction during the chloride diffusion process.