Abstract:
The amount and continuity of pore structure in concrete are crucial parameters affecting the durability of reinforced concrete structures that exposed to marine environment. Nowaday, ASTM C1202 or RCPT was proposed for rapid qualitative assessment of chloride penetrability of concrete. However, ASTM C1202 seems to be measured the electrical conductivity of concrete specimen more than the ability of concrete to resist chloride ions. Consequently, this study will try to modify ASTM C1202 for determining the amount and the continuity of pore structure in concrete by mornitoring the chloride concentration and compare the result with other tests such as Mercury-intrusion porosimetry (MIP), compressive strength and ASTM C1202. This research aims to study the possibility of determining the amount and continuity of pores in concrete by considering the variations of chloride concentration in anode solution and cathode solution with respect to time. The chloride ions in cathode solution were accerelated through the saturated pores of concrete specimen by the electromotive force. The chloride concentration will be recorded in order to analyze according to the research assumption. In this study, plain cement concrete and concrete containing different types of pozzolan (fly ash and rice husk ash) with water to binder rations (w/b) of 0.40, 0.50 and 0.60 were tested. The coulomb charge passed (RCPT or ASTM C1202) was modified to indicate the time-span (Ts) of steady state condition by mean of the constant flux of electric current. The results of the experiment reveal good correspondence with the research assumption and comply with other tests such as mercury-intrusion porosimetry (MIP), compressive strength and ASTM C1202 respectively. According to the study the resistance to chloride-ion penetration of the concrete made with triple-blends is higher than that of concrete made either with portland cement alone or a blend of portland cement with fly ash or rice husk ash. This is mainly due to the refinement of capillary pore of concrete made with triple-blends.