The diffusion of chloride into concrete is a significant factor in reliably predicting the life expectancy and mechanisms to improve the durability of the infrastructure. This research used simulation based reliability assessment (SBRA) method for the probabilistic prediction of chloride diffusion. Data was collected from the in-situ measurement of chloride penetration and concrete cover from more than 230 samples taken from bridge decks in the United States. The bridges were constructed under identical construction and design specifications over a 13-year period and exposed to deicing salts, as well as normal environmental cycles. The paper illustrates the effect of variations in diffusion coefficients and cover depths using histograms. The research used Monte Carlo simulation to evaluate Fick's second law using an expansion solution to Crank's error function. The result shows that the initiation of corrosion from the diffusion can be significantly delayed by using concrete with lower design diffusion coefficients.

  • INTRODUCTION

  • BACKGROUND

  • RESEARCH PROGRAMME

  • SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

  • ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  • REFERENCES

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