Title:
Evaluation of Nonproprietary Ultra-High-Performance Concrete Resistance to Chloride Penetration
Author(s):
R. S. Alrashidi, R. Zeidan, M. Voss, C. C. Ferraro, T. Hamilton, and K. A. Riding
Publication:
Materials Journal
Volume:
123
Issue:
4
Appears on pages(s):
129-139
Keywords:
accelerated chloride migration electrical (ACME) test; bulk diffusion; chloride penetration; concrete resistivity; fibers; ultra-high- performance concrete (UHPC)
DOI:
10.14359/51750666
Date:
7/1/2026
Abstract:
Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) often contains conductive steel fibers that interfere with conventional electrical durability tests, such as resistivity measurements, limiting their reliability for mixture qualification. This study proposed an accelerated chloride migration electrical (ACME) test to rapidly assess the durability of UHPC with steel fibers against chloride ingress. Four strength classes, ranging from high-performance concrete to UHPC, were produced with three steel fiber contents (0, 1.5, and 2%) and cured under fog, steam, and precast regimens. ACME test results were compared against surface/bulk resistivity and long-term bulk diffusion measurements to assess their consistency and sensitivity to fiber content. Across mixtures 124 MPa (18 ksi) or higher, fiber inclusion had minimal influence on ACME penetration depth, and strong correlations were observed between ACME results and 1-year diffusion coefficients. Based on these findings, a 7-day ACME limit for steam-cured samples is proposed as a rapid, fiber-independent acceptance criterion for qualifying the chloride penetration resistance of UHPC mixtures.
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