Title: Chloride Diffusivity through Partially Saturated, Binary- Blended Concrete

Author(s): Yu-You Wu, Francisco J. Presuel-Moreno, and Ronald Simmons

Publication: Materials Journal

Volume: 115

Issue: 5

Appears on pages(s): 695-705

Keywords: chloride; diffusivity; fly ash; mortar layer; partially saturated concrete; water saturation degree

DOI: 10.14359/51702346

Date: 9/1/2018

Abstract:
The surface of concrete at the tidal, splash, and atmospheric regions of partially immersed marine structures experiences different degrees of water saturation. Hence, the concrete pore structure is partially filled with water at some of these regions. The present work experimentally investigates chloride transport into partially saturated concrete with 20% fly ash replacement, and the effect of the mortar layer/concrete surface condition on chloride diffusivity at four degrees of water saturation relevant to the Florida marine environments. The results indicate that the mortar layer of concrete provides protection against chloride penetration, leading to lower chloride diffusivity values. Moreover, chloride diffusivity as a function of the degree of water saturation for concrete with and without mortar layers is found to be different. The diffusivity of the former hardly changes when the degree of water saturation increases from 70 to 80%.