SALT WEATHERING EFFECT ON THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF DURABLE CONCRETE

Salt weathering is a widespread problem in the Middle East. There is also a shortage of good quality mixing water and often the mixing water is not free from chlorides as a result of the high water table in the coastal regions. Generally, chlorides from contaminated constituents can be controlled; however when the source of chloride intrusion is external to the concrete the effect depends on the ability of the concrete to resist its penetration satisfactorily for a long period. This paper deals with the engineering properties of high performance concrete mixes with and without sodium chloride as a proportion of the total binder content. This proportion slightly exceeds the threshold level of chloride for corrosion activation of 0.4%, regardless of the cement type. This work has been planned to investigate the effect of chlorides on the engineering properties of slag concrete if the chlorides are accidentally trapped in the mix constituents through sand, coarse aggregates or mix water. Some aspects of the mechanical properties; compressive and flexural strengths, shrinkage and swelling, dynamic modulus of elasticity and ultrasonic pulse velocity are observed. The results is hoped reproducible and meaningful for durable concrete will be obtained with which the engineering properties can be correlated with confidence. The full details of the experimental program and curing regimes are presented.

• INTRODUCTION

• EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAMME

• DETAILS OF TEST METHODOLOGY

• EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

• CONCLUSIONS

• REFERENCES