Title:
Investigation of Concrete From a Bridge Support after 11 Years of Exposure to Seawater
Author(s):
A. Durekovic and V. Calogovic
Publication:
Symposium Paper
Volume:
126
Issue:
Appears on pages(s):
627-642
Keywords:
chlorides; compressive strength; concrete bridges; corrosion; marine atmospheres; permeability; seawater; Materials Research
DOI:
10.14359/2353
Date:
8/1/1991
Abstract:
The concrete bridge structural members, called "skew members" (SM), which are positioned from 1.5 m above the sea level to about 20 m down in the sea, and are among the most important elements in bridge construction, were investigated for maintenance purposes after 11 years of service. The underwater arch foundation concrete was also tested. The compressive strength, determined as the average value of 10 concrete cores drilled out from each of two skew members--SM-St. Marko and SM-Mainland--was 62.3 Mpa and 57.4 MPa, respectively. Chlorides had penetrated through the high-alkaline composite by over 20 mm in the splash zone concrete and by over 45 mm in the fully submerged concrete, where {Cl-}-penetration was probably enhanced by hydrostatic pressure. The lack of corrosion of the steel in the concrete, even in the presence of high chloride concentration, could be explained by the absence of oxygen. The gas permeability coefficients Kg determined on the concrete core slices varied in the inner concrete layers of SM-St. Marko from 5.58 to 20.10 x 10-13 cmý and from 0.55 to 2.84 x 10-13 cmý in the concrete at SM-Mainland.