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Title: Current Status of CANMET's Studies on the Durability of Concrete Containing Supplementary Cementing Materials in Marine Environment

Author(s): V. M. Malhotra, G. G. Carette, and T. W. Bremner

Publication: Symposium Paper

Volume: 109

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 31-72

Keywords: blast furnace slag; compressive strength; concrete durability; fly ash; freeze-thaw durability; marine atmospheres; portland cements; sea water; silica fume; wetting and drying tests; Materials Research

DOI: 10.14359/1912

Date: 8/1/1988

Abstract:
Paper deals with the evaluation in marine environment of normal and lightweight concretes incorporating supplementary cementing materials. A series of 175 concrete prisms, 305 x 305 x 915-mm in size, were cast over a nine-year period starting in 1978 for long-term exposure at Treat Island, Maine. The prisms were positioned at mid-tide level on a rack at the entrance to the Bay of Fundy, which is perhaps the most severe marine exposure condition for concrete. The test specimens are exposed to repeated cycles of wetting and drying, and to an average of about 100 cycles of freezing and thawing per year. The test specimens are monitored at yearly intervals: the specimens are photographed and rated on a visual basis. Ultrasonic pulse velocity is also determined. After up to nine years exposure, both normal-weight and lightweight air-entrained concretes show no degradation of the mass of the concrete; however, some of the specimens show significant surface deterioration. The amount of deterioration generally increases with an increasing water-to-cementitious materials ratio, and increasing replacement of cement with slag and fly ash. It appears that surface deterioration can be avoided if the cement content is kept to at least a certain minimum level. The tests confirm that over long exposure duration, non air-entrained concrete is not durable in this environment.