Chloride tests for concrete can be used to determine the chloride content in concrete. Let's discuss how the tests are performed and what their implications are.
The presence of chloride in concrete affects the durability of structures.
Therefore, it is advisable to prevent the penetration of chlorides into concrete by taking the necessary measures to prevent corrosion of the reinforcement.
However, we cannot completely avoid chloride contact with concrete structures when constructed in such an environment, unless the structure is moved to another location, which is impractical.
The following reasons can lead to: chloride penetrating the concrete.
- Structure exposed to sea water
- Use of sea sand for construction (chloride content higher than permitted)
- Use water contaminated with seawater for construction
- Use of additives with calcium chloride
- Humidity, alternating wetting and drying
- Exposed to higher temperatures; Concrete can crack
As structures cannot be built far from the chloride-containing environment, preventive measures must be taken to prevent chloride from penetrating the concrete.
This can prevent corrosion of the reinforcement or increase the durability of the structure. The following measures can be considered:
- Concrete coverage can be increased depending on the type of exposure. Depending on the exposure class, coverage can be achieved up to. Specific values are available for all design patterns.
- As recommended in the standards, higher concrete qualities could be used. As the quality of concrete increases, the durability of the structure increases. Furthermore, the porosity of the concrete is also reduced because there is more cement available for reactions. Special care must be taken when increasing the quality of concrete, especially when pouring thicker concrete. crack width A calculation must be made to verify that the specified value Limits . When using higher quality concrete, the heat of hydration increases and, if not controlled properly, can cause cracks in the structure. The article Initial concrete temperature For more information on this topic, you can contact us.
- Particularly Coatings could be applied to the Reinforcement Bar for additional protection. This method adds additional costs to the project. However, it is advisable to avoid corrosion of the reinforcement, as repairing corrosion is very expensive.
Chloride Content Test
Chloride content testing of reinforced concrete is carried out in accordance with BS1881.
As structures are retrofitted, this problem is compounded and given the loading conditions the structure is under, chloride testing becomes essential.
Based on the chloride content, conclusions can be drawn about the effect on reinforcement.
Whether existing reinforcement is used or whether support is needed to improve load-bearing capacity can be decided based on facts determined during testing.
