The compressive strength, chloride penetration resistance and microstructure of two high-performance concretes were examined under three curing conditions. Curing conditions include standard curing (SC), matched curing (MC, which means sealed concrete specimens curing at temperature controlled box) and matched curing of naked concrete (NMC) according to development law of temperature measured in mass concrete on site. Results indicate that concrete under MC and NMC show higher resistance to chloride penetration than the one under SC. Concrete under MC has slightly lower chloride penetration than those under NMC, but the compressive strength of specimens under NMC was higher than the one under MC at 56 d. In addition, concrete under NMC and MC have higher early strength than under SC, especially at early age. However, the order of curing conditions affecting compressive strength of concrete at 248 day is: SC>NMC>MC.
Corrosion of reinforcing steel is a major cause for degradation of concrete structures,especially when exposed to chloride ions.Thus,the Silver/Nano-silver Chloride (SNSC) electrodes as sensors of chloride concentration were prepared and encapsulated carefully.The properties of the electrode were studied by emerging them in a series of concrete pore solutions with different admixed KCl contents.These SNSC sensors show that good stability in concrete pore solutions at room temperature.Polarization disposal can shorten the stabilized period of the sensors.The electrochemical tests indicate the SNSC sensors with desirable linearity and reproducibility.The response time of SNSC sensors is short enough for monitoring the chloride ions concentration in concrete structures.The good performance of SNSC sensors indicate that they could be embedded in the concrete structures in the future.
Cored concrete specimens from seawall exposed to marine environment for 22 years were evaluated by carbonation depth test,rapid chloride permeability test,absorption of water test and microstructure examination.The results show that concrete exposed to marine environment has smaller carbonation depth and carbonation depth of concrete exposed to tidal zone is less than that in splash zone.There are similar water absorption rate and chloride permeability for concrete exposed to splash zone compared with concrete exposed to splash zone removed 3mm surface layer.However,concrete exposed to tidal zone with bio-films has lower chloride permeability and water absorption rate than those of concrete exposed to tidal zone removed 3mm surface layer.In addition,Results of FE-SEM and EDAX indicate that concrete exposed to splash zone has loose structure,exposed finer aggregate and concrete exposed to tidal zone covers by dense structure of oyster cementation and shell.Microstructures analysis further verified that concrete covered with oysters and their cementation has beneficial effects to durability of concrete.
