Title: Durability Performance of Slender Reinforced Coastal Defense Units

Author(s): S. G. Millard

Publication: Symposium Paper

Volume: 109

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 339-366

Keywords: breakwaters; concrete durability; corrosion; fly ash; performance; permeability; reinforced concrete; shore protection; Materials Research

DOI: 10.14359/1996

Date: 8/1/1988

Abstract:
Coastal defenses in the United Kingdom have often been constructed using natural stone armor or plain concrete armor. This paper reports on the novel use of slender section reinforced concrete units in the marine splash zone. A program of monitoring the durability performance of the coastal defenses was commenced by the University of Liverpool in 1985. A visual survey together with electrical potential and resistivity monitoring of a sample of 51 units is conducted annually. Overall, the slender reinforced concrete units are performing very well both hydraulically and structurally. Some minor impact damage soon after construction has been easily repaired using the steel reinforcement as a bonding key. The results of three years of potential monitoring have shown that the steel reinforcement has been passivated in all but one of the sample units. The resistivity monitoring has shown that the fly ash concrete has a significantly higher resistivity than the ordinary concrete and hence; its use should lead to lower rates of corrosion. Further studies on the durability of reinforced concrete in the splash zone are in progress.