Engineering Commons^™

Using Long-Term Outdoor Exposure Data To Benchmark Accelerated Durability Test Methods, R. Hooton

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

Many performance-based durability test methods adopted in various national and international standards were developed decades ago based on short-term evaluations. Most durability tests use various methods to accelerate reactions in order to obtain results in a reasonably short period of time. Then pass/fail criteria are set for these tests in standard specifications. However, the acceleration techniques used maybe overly severe, and preclude the use of concrete materials and mix designs that perform perfectly well in the field. The inclusion of long-term field tests or outdoor exposure tests can be used to verify the appropriateness of both the test methods and …

Durability Of Cement-Based Materials In Drinking Water Storage, Matthias Schwotzer, Andreas Gerdes

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

In order to provide a hygienic storage drinking water reservoirs have been coated with mineral mortar linings in all epochs of European history. However, modern cement-based materials often show in this special operational environment an inadequate durability. Even though drinking water is commonly not considered particularly harmful to cementitious systems, the chemical degradation of mortar linings in drinking water storage systems can occur very fast compared to other common deterioration reactions. This results in cost intensive repair measures and thus high life-cycle costs as well associated with an ecological burden. Furthermore, an insufficient understanding of degradation mechanisms and their underlying …

Experimental And Numerical Study Of Macro-Cell Corrosion Between Crossed Steel Bars, Zheng Dong, Xianglin Gu, Zhihao Jin

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

Reinforcing steel bars embedded in concrete are always intersected with each other to form rebar mesh or three-dimensional steel cage. The present study aims to investigate the phenomenon of severe corrosion observed at stirrups or some intersections of steel rebar mesh, which has not been well studied before. Macro-cell corrosion between crossed steel bars was considered to be the major cause for this phenomenon. In this regard, crossed steel bars were divided into intersected zone (IZ) and non-intersected zone (NIZ). The macro-cell current at the face-to-face IZ was calculated by Ohm’s law. A one-dimensional model based on transmission line method …

Performance Of High-Volume Fly Ash Self-Compacting Concrete Exposed To External Sulfate Attack, Tareq S. Al-Attar Dr., A. A. Taha

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

The high-volume fly ash concrete, HVFAC, could be defined as any concrete mix having fly ash content larger than 50 percent of the total cementitious materials content. Due to the availability of fly ash in large quantities globally with low cost, HVFAC could be considered as a solution for the environmental impact of Portland cements. In this study the durability of two high-volume fly ash self-compacting concrete, HVFASCC, mixes exposed to the effects of two sulfate aggressive solutions was investigated. The fly ash, class F, contents for these mixes were 50 and 60 percent by weight of Portland cement. The …

Mechanical And Microstructure Characteristics Of Concrete-Mixtures Designed For Durability Of Rc-Structures In Corrosive Environment, Saeid A. Alghamdi Dr., S. Ahmad, M. M. Khaled

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

As exposures to chloride-salts are known as prime factors causing initiation and continuity of corrosion-process of steel reinforcement bars in reinforced concrete (RC) structures, it has always been a major concern for designers considering the requirements of structural-durability for targeted-service life of RC-structures in aggressively corrosive environments typically prevalent in coastal regions. Research works previously reported by the researchers have modeled corrosion-process in terms of corrosion-current density, and it was realized that concrete-mixtures design quality and characteristics, degree of exposures to corrosive-agents such as chloride salts, and protective-concrete cover-thickness are now known beyond doubt to be determinant factors as regards …

Load-Bearing Capacity Of Corroded Reinforced Concrete Structures Caused By Carbonation And Exposed To Xc4, Esko Sistonen

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

Concrete corrosion can be visualized as a combination of chemical reaction on concrete and electrochemical reaction on steel reinforcement. Failure of steel reinforcement due to corrosion can inflict significant stress on concrete during load distribution. As such, it is necessary to analyse the long-term effects of corrosion on the load bearing capacity and bending strength of steel reinforcement. This research investigated the mechanical and electrochemical properties of concrete exposed to long-term corrosion for a period of 16 years. Non-destructive testing like crack width measurements, visual examination, electrochemical measurements using Galva Pulse and determination of average chloride content were undertaken to …

Effect Of Multi- Steel Bolt Anchorages On Composite Beams, Dawei Zhang, H. F. Shi, W. L. Jin, Tamon Ueda

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

Using fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) to retrofit or strengthen the concrete structures is an attractive option in construction areas nowadays. However, premature debonding failures limit the efficacy of fiber utilization. It is presently accepted that anchorage system is an attractive option to solve this problem. Much efforts has been made through experimental testing and numerical modeling to investigate the anchorage systems, meanwhile various systems were created and developed. However, researches on the mechanism of the anchorage systems are still too rare to build a countable and union design guideline with respect to different premature debonding failure modes. The present paper focused …

Effect Of Corrosion On The Shear Transfer Behavior Of Stud Shear Connectors, Wen Xue, Ju Chen, Ao-Yu Jiang, Wei-Liang Jin

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

The effect of corrosion on the shear transfer behavior of stud shear connectors was investigated in this study. Experimental investigation was performed using an innovative test setup for single stud shear connector. Two series of specimens having different stud diameters were fabricated and tested. The test specimens were firstly corroded to different corrosion rates by electronic accelerating method. Loading test were then performed to obtain the load-slip curves and ultimate strengths of corroded test specimens. Corrosion rates were measured from the studs obtained from the failure test specimens. Test results were compared with standard push out test specimens having the …

Drying Shrinkage Of Hardened Cement Paste And Its Relationship To The Microstructure, Xin Wang, Chaojun Wan, Xiaojing Zhang, Heng Chen

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

The aim of the present study is to relate microstructure to the drying shrinkage of hardened cement paste. Three microstructural features, calcium silicate hydrate(C-S-H), calcium hydroxide(CH) and pore structure were studied. A new method to determine the C-S-H content of hardened cement paste is presented. Drying shrinkage behavior of cement pastes were investigated by drying specimens through successive steps of RH 100% to 7% RH and re-saturating the specimens. The total shrinkage of cement paste after drying to 7% RH and irreversible shrinkage were decreased with the increasing amount of C-S-H and CH. Prolonged curing resulted in a paste with …

Effect Of External Loading On Durability Properties Of Pre-Stressed Concrete Girders With Microcracking, Savitha Sagari Srinivasan, Raissa Douglas Ferron, Michael Rung

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

Over the last fourteen years, very early in the service life of pre-stressed concrete girders, unexplained microcracks have been observed. Their presence led to concerns about the future integrity of the girders, with one of the major concerns being corrosion of pre-stressing strands. As such, a comprehensive study aimed at understanding the effects these microcracks have on the service life of the girders was initiated. Eight in-service girders, under external loads, and five rejected girders, not under external loads, were selected for the study. In this paper, we present work on the temporal evolution of the cracks during a one-year …

Electrochemical Behaviour Of Passive Layers In Weathered Reinforced Mortars, B. Díaz, B. Guitián, X.R. Nóvoa, M.C. Pérez

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

Electrochemical methods are widely employed for assessing the corrosion performance of steel rebars embedded in concrete. Corrosion potential and polarization resistance are the main parameters considered for this purpose; under the assumption that the cathodic process corresponds to oxygen reduction and the anodic process to steel corrosion. Although these assumptions are mostly true, they are not able to explain some transitions from passive to active states, as well as some corrosion potential evolutions. The present contribution is intended to provide an in depth approximation to those questions based on the study of thick passive layers formed over years in atmospheric …

Influence Of Surface Retarders On Texture Profile And Durability Of Upper Layer Of Exposed Aggregate Concrete Pavement, Mariusz Dąbrowski, Miachał Antoni Glinicki, Karolina Gibas, Aneta Antolik, Kinga Dziedzic

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

Exposed aggregate concrete (EAC) pavement technology is used in Poland for construction of major highways and expressways. When properly executed, it is an efficient technique to provide desired friction for skid resistance without compromising the noise limitations. Concrete mix uniformity, proper dosing of retarding agent and optimal time to brush with a mechanical broom are supposed to have a major impact on the properties of the upper pavement layer. An experimental investigation was performed on exposed aggregate concrete specimens manufactured in the laboratory in a way to simulate the industrial production of two-layer concrete slab with exposed aggregate. The texture …

Performance Of Anaerobic Digestion Systems: A Review, Douglas Thompson, Sree Nanukuttan, Daniel Mcpolin

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

Anaerobic digesters contain extreme environments that change drastically during the production cycle. Organic material is broken down first into amino and fatty acids, then into volatile fatty acids, ammonia, CO₂, H₂S and other by-products. These acids and alcohols are converted to acetic acid as well as CO₂ and H₂, which is then used to create methane. All these biological processes mean that the pH, temperature and type of bacteria vary, creating conditions outside the scope of current standards, such as a concentration of ammonium ions 8 times greater than the upper limit of …

Emerging Rapid Aggregate And Concrete Test Methods For Formulating Asr-Resistant Concrete, Anol Mukhopadhyay, Kai-Wei Liu

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

The main objective of this study was to develop rapid aggregate and concrete test methods and a combined innovative approach for formulating performance based ASR resistant concrete mixes. An innovative step by step approach has been developed to formulate ASR resistant concrete mixes based on four recommended steps. In step 1, determination of aggregate ASR composite activation energy (CAE) and threshold alkalinity (THA) by using a rapid aggregate chemical test called volumetric change measuring device (VCMD) is performed. The lower the CAE the higher the reactivity is. Based on the measured CAE and THA, mix design formulation is conducted in …

Study On Accelerated Microbial Corrosion Of Concrete By Artificially Intensified Sewage, L. J. Kong, M. F. Cao, Xiangming Zhou Prof, H. R. Lu, H. Lu, G. Kastiukas

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

In this study, the artificially intensified sewage with different levels of chemical oxygen demand (COD) were prepared, and the changes in weight and strength, as well as the micro morphology, mineral compositions and pore structure of concrete specimens immersed in the artificially intensified sewage and water were investigated in comparison. In parallel, the COD, pH, H₂S and O₂ values, as well as the microbial species and contents of sewage were monitored in the corrosion process. Furthermore, the microbial structure and activities within biofilm developed on concrete surface were also analyzed. The results indicated that the increase of …

The Tsa Degradation Process Within Cement-Based Materials In The Electrical Field Environment, Chong Wang, Zheng Fang, Yaoling Luo

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

The thaumasite form of sulfate attack (TSA) of cement-based materials is a complex degradation process. The degradation process needs abundant water, carbonate, sulfate and silicate. However, there is no detailed study on the TSA degradation process. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and chemical analyses were used to study the TSA degradation process based on the present studies. The results indicated that the degradation process of the electrical field was similar to the full immersion, with the main difference being the degradation rate. The electrical field can obviously accelerate the TSA degradation process. The degradation had progressed to the core of the sample, …

Sulfate Resistance Study Of Carbonated Low-Calcium Silicate Systems, Raikhan Tokpatayeva, Jan Olek, Jitendra Jain, Anuj Seth, Nicholas Decristofaro

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

This paper summarizes the results of sulfate resistance study of carbonated mortar specimens made with Solidia CementÔ (SC) and tested for expansion according to ASTM C1012 specification while exposed to three types of soak solutions: sodium sulfate, magnesium sulfate and deionized water. A control set of ordinary portland cement (OPC) mortars was also evaluated. Besides the length change measurements, visual observations of changes in the appearance of specimens were conducted after various lengths of exposure. In addition, microstructural characterization of the specimens was conducted using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) techniques. …

Freeze-Thaw Resistance Of Concrete: Insight From Microstructural Properties, Sam Adu-Amankwah, Leon Black Dr, M Zajac, J Skoceck, M Ben Haha

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

Composite cements offer low carbon alternatives to conventional CEM I. These binders also generally tend to perform better than CEM I in aggressive chemical environments. However, their freeze-thaw resistance, evident through surface scaling and internal damage is usually impaired. Postulated theories on freeze-thaw induced damage do not fully explain the origin of this weakness in composite cement concretes.

This paper systematically presents the phase assemblage changes associated with the freeze-thaw of concrete specimen made from composite cements with and without limestone. The freeze-thaw test was performed on concrete according to CIF method based on CEN/TR 15177 and the corresponding cement …

Investigation On The Influence Of Concrete Pores On Steel Corrosion Process, Xiaowen Zhang, Yuxi Zhao

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

Concrete pores on the steel/concrete interface have a great influence on the corrosion process of steel bars. The effects of these pores on the corrosion of steel bars are observed and explored in this paper. The specimens which are in the same size and concrete proportion but have a different curing and exposure history are compared and investigated. This paper mainly observes the process of corrosion products filling into macro pores (10-4-10-2m in diameter) which including compaction pores (10-3-10-2m in diameter) and air voids (10-4-10-3 m in diameter). These pores have different effect on the steel corrosion process, and these …

Effect Of Corrosion And Corrosion Rate On The Mechanical Performance Of Carbon And Stainless Steel Reinforcing Bars, Hailong Wang, Xiaoyan Sun, Hangting Kong

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

Steel corrosion is a predominant factor leading to age-related structural degradation. To understand the different effects of pitting corrosion on the mechanical performances of deformed carbon and stainless steel reinforcing bars, an artificially accelerated method was conducted to corrode the steel bars. Using a 3D laser scanner, the three-dimensional models of corroded steel bars were reconstructed. The corrosion characterization was identified based on these 3D profiles. The results indicate that the number and the depth of corrosion pits of both types of steel increase with the increase of corrosion rate, however the pitting corrosion of stainless steel is much more …

Sustainable Concrete With Seawater And Corrosion Resistant Reinforcement: Results Of Monitoring Of Corrosion Behaviour, Elena Redaelli, Maddalena Carsana, Federica Lollini, Matteo Gastaldi, Forood Torabian Isfahani

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

The use of seawater for mixing concrete for reinforced concrete structures is prohibited, since it can promote steel corrosion. However, the use of seawater would contribute to decrease the environmental impact of concrete, in particular in those regions of the world where potable water is a precious resource. The project SEACON-INFRAVATION between University of Miami and Politecnico di Milano, with various industrial partners, aims at investigating the use of seawater for the construction of sustainable and durable reinforced concrete structures and infrastructures. Within the project, that included a vast campaign of laboratory tests, also two demo projects – one in …

Experimental And Numerical Investigation On The Irregularity Of Carbonation Depth Of Concrete Under Supercritical Condition, Hao Bao Masc, Min Yu Dr., Jianqiao Ye Dr., Lihua Xu Dr., Yin Chi Dr., J Ye

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

The heterogeneity of a cement-based material results in a random spatial distribution of carbonation depth, which may significantly affect the mechanical properties and durability of the material. Currently, there is a lack of both experimental and numerical investigations aiming at a statistical understanding of this important phenomenon. This paper presents both experimental and numerical supercritical carbonation test results of concrete blocks. The random fields of porosity and two-dimension random aggregate model of concrete were proposed for the simulation. The carbonation depths are measured and distributed along the carbonation boundary by the proposed rapid image processing technique, which are then statistically …

Interactions Between Reinforcement Corrosion And Chloride Ion Diffusion In Mortar, Chun-Tao Chen Prof., Yi-Chieh Chuang, Chieh-Hao Wu, Chin-Wei Hsu

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

This study explored the diffusion of the chloride ions influenced by the reinforcement corrosion in the mortar. It is believed that, during the corroding process, a small current is generated at the surface of the reinforcement. Such current is supposed to influence the diffusion of the chloride ions, but the relationship between both was not well studied in the literature. In this study, the corroded reinforcements were prepared by applied currents. Reinforced mortar specimens with w/c of 0.6 were then prepared and cured by either salt or fresh water. Results showed that the chloride ion distribution was likely associated with …

Influence Of Cracks On The Carbonation Resistance Of Concrete Structures, Abbas Al-Ameeri Mr., Muhammed Imran Rafiq Dr., Orania Tsioulo Dr.

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

Carbonation-induced corrosion of steel rebar embedded in concrete is one of the major issues influencing durability of reinforced concrete structures. It has been acknowledged that structural cracks in concrete influences the carbon dioxide (CO₂) diffusivity and accelerates the carbonation-induced reinforcement corrosion, however most of the previous studies on the carbonation induced corrosion have concentrated on the un-cracked / unloaded concrete. This study investigates the impact of cracks caused by loading on the depth of carbonation into concrete. Concrete prisms (100x100x500 mm) were subjected to four different crack widths (0, 0.05-0.15 mm, 0.15-0.25 mm and 0.25-0.35 mm) and the …

Influence Of Exposure Environments On The Durability Of Slag-Blended Cements, Joseph Onah Ukpata, P. A. M. Basheer, Leon Black

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

Both chlorides and sulphates combine in seawater to affect the durability of reinforced concrete structures located in marine environments. This paper presents the results of an experimental study on slag blended cement systems, cured for 7 days, before exposure to a combined solution of sodium chloride (30 g/L) and sodium sulphate (3 g/L). Two slags of different chemical compositions, designated as slags 1 and 2 were respectively blended with Portland cement CEM I 52.5R at 30 and 70 wt.% replacement levels. Mechanical tests on mortar samples were complemented by microstructural examination and chemical characterisation on paste samples, all using a …

Effect Of Chloride Exposure Condition On The Performance Of Concretes Containing Pfa, Paraic Ryan, Alan O'Connor

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

Over the past number of decades the use of different supplementary cementing materials have been investigated, with a view to increasing the resilience of reinforced concrete to chloride-induced corrosion. The slow nature of chloride-ion ingress has meant much of the information available on the relative performance of different concretes has been derived from accelerated testing, with the majority of these tests conducted under fully saturated conditions. While there is merit to such practices, there is also a need to examine the relative performance of different concretes under unsaturated conditions. This need is highlighted by the fact that reinforced concrete elements …

Climate Resilient Concrete Structures In Marine Environment Of Bangladesh, Sudarshan Srinivasan, Ian Gibb

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

Bangladesh has a vast coastal infrastructure seriously affected by climate change and associated extreme environmental conditions. The rural construction sector in Bangladesh will be undergoing rapid growth in the next 10 years through rural infrastructure development programmes funded by the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank. The Local Government Engineering Department (LGED in Bangladesh), owns the rural concrete infrastructure, maintains around 380, 000 linear metres of concrete bridges or culverts in the rural coastal areas and are planning to build more than 200,000 linear metres during the next ten years. In order to design and construct durable concrete structures …

The Performance Of Concrete In A Marine Environment, Michael D. Thomas, Edward G. Moffatt

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

This paper presents a summary of data from wide range of concretes following periods of marine exposure ranging up to 25 years. Data are presented from more than 100 different concrete mixtures. The various types of concrete include fibre-reinforced concrete (FRC), ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC), concrete with a range of supplementary cementing materials (SCM such as fly ash, slag, and silica fume) and replacement levels (e.g. up to 58% fly ash and 80% slag), lightweight-aggregate concrete (LWAC) and concrete containing alkali-silica reactive aggregate. Testing included measuring chloride concentration profiles, electrochemical corrosion measurements (for steel-reinforced concrete), and various electrical and mechanical …

Mescopic Model Of Drying Shrinkage And Its Application Into Control Of Shrinkage Cracking, Toyoharu Nawa

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

Concrete shrinks when it is subjected to drying, whenever its surfaces are exposed to air of a low relative humidity. In such a situation, cracking is to be expected, since there are various kinds of restraint that prevent concrete from contracting freely. Unless the ambient relative humidity is kept at close to 100%, such shrinkage cracking presents a critical problem in concrete construction, in particular for thin, flat structures such as walls and slabs in buildings, highway pavements, and bridge decks. This paper review the state of art of theory drying shrinkage from focus on the fact that microstructure in …

Fib Model Code 2020 – Durability Design And Through Life Management Of New And Existing Structures, Frank Papworth, S Matthews

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

Work has recently started in fib (Fédération Internationale du Béton) on the preparation of a new fib Model Code for Concrete Structures, under the working title of Model Code 2020 (MC2020). This will be a single code dealing with both new and existing concrete structures, that is both the design of new structures and all the activities associated with the assessment, interventions and the through-life management and care of existing concrete structures. Numerous goals relating to durability and service life design have been identified, including that ideally MC2020 should incorporate:

• Better models for deterioration processes addressing issues such as …