Title:
Damage Progression and Mitigation Potential in Iron Sulfide- Bearing Concrete under Electrochemical Acceleration
Author(s):
M. Ojo, A. Rocha, A. Corraya, L. Frame, K. Wille
Publication:
Symposium Paper
Volume:
370
Issue:
Appears on pages(s):
209-220
Keywords:
Aggregate size; Concrete deterioration; Electrochemical acceleration; Pozzolanic materials; Pyrrhotite oxidation; Water-to-cement ratio
DOI:
10.14359/51751780
Date:
6/1/2026
Abstract:
Concrete specimens containing iron sulfide-bearing aggregates were investigated under electrochemical acceleration to evaluate potential damage mitigation strategies. Cylinders were prepared with different aggregate sizes, sulfide contents, water-to-cement ratios, cement types, and pozzolanic replacements, and subjected to controlled electrochemical exposure to reproduce field-like deterioration within weeks. Damage progression was monitored using resonance frequency measurements, visual crack quantification, and microstructural analysis. Results showed that higher sulfide contents accelerated modulus loss and crack initiation, with coarser aggregates producing visible cracking and greater stiffness reductions, while finer aggregates largely avoided macrocracking. Higher water-to-cement ratios further accelerated deterioration, whereas lower ratios delayed both onset and propagation. Cement type and pozzolanic additions also influenced deterioration, with all mixtures exhibiting damage under electrochemical acceleration. Specimens containing Type I white Portland cement demonstrated greater resilience against rapid failure, while partial cement replacement with glass powder delayed early crack propagation. These findings demonstrate that electrochemical acceleration provides a reliable platform for evaluating potential mitigation strategies and show how mixture design parameters influence deterioration progression in iron sulfide-bearing concrete, offering insights that support the development of practical approaches to manage this durability problem.
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