Title: Performance-based Specifications for Sulfate Resisting Concrete

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Publication: CIA

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Date: 2/14/2011

Abstract:
Depending on its service conditions, concrete may be exposed to aggressive ground water and soils containing sulfates. To ensure the durability of concrete in such an environment, it is critical that the concrete used has the required sulfate resistance. Prescriptive specifications are commonly used to specify sulfate resisting concrete. In most cases, prescriptive specifications are difficult to control and may not deliver the desired outcome. A performance-based specification will serve the dual purpose of giving the concrete supplier the flexibility in providing the most appropriate concrete to meet the performance required and giving engineers/specifiers a greater confidence that the required performance of the concrete is being met. A long-term CCAA research project to develop a performance-based specification for sulfate resisting concrete has been conducted. This paper discusses both prescriptive and performance-based specification for sulfate resisting concrete and the development of a rapid sulfate permeability test which has the potential to be used as a quality control tool during the construction phase.