Title: Swelling of Concrete in Deep Seawater

Author(s): J. Bijen and G. Van Der Wegen

Publication: Symposium Paper

Volume: 145

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 389-408

Keywords: blast furnace slag; concretes; expansion; osmosis; slags; pore water pressure; Materials Research

DOI: 10.14359/4551

Date: 5/1/1994

Abstract:
Concrete submerged in seawater swells. The expansion is larger in seawater than in fresh water. Due to the growing interest in deep seawater applications of concrete, an investigation was carried out on the behavior of concrete in seawater under pressure. Under high pressure, the swelling is greater and faster than under atmospheric pressure. The swelling can escalate to 1 percent in a few years. In saturated lime water, the swelling is far less than in seawater. From the various parameters investigated, the cement type appeared to be the most important. Blast furnace slag cement with a high slag content appeared to swell substantially less than normal portland cement.