Prediction of Chloride Penetration into Hardening Concrete

Abstract EN

In marine and coastal environments, penetration of chloride ions is one of the main mechanisms causing concrete reinforcement corrosion.

Currently, most of experimental investigations about submerged penetration of chloride ions are started after the four-week standard curing of concrete.

The further hydration of cement and reduction of chloride diffusivity during submerged penetration period are ignored.

To overcome this weak point, this paper presents a numerical procedure to analyze simultaneously cement hydration reaction and chloride ion penetration process.

First, using a cement hydration model, degree of hydration and phase volume fractions of hardening concrete are determined.

Second, the dependences of chloride diffusivity and chloride binding capacity on age of concrete are clarified.

Third, chloride profiles in hardening concrete are calculated.

The proposed numerical procedure is verified by using chloride submerged penetration test results of concrete with different mixing proportions.