Correlation of Chloride Diffusivity and Electrical Resistance for Cracked Concrete

The Durability of Reinforced Concrete (RC) structures in the Marine environment is causing increasingly serious concern in the structural infrastructures. RC structures, exposed to aggressive environments, are expected to last with little or no maintenance for long periods of time. However, one of the most serious environmental exposures that cause degradation is Chloride Diffusion, with tide-simulated wet and dry conditions at the air-water interface.

This investigation, jointly project with Cemex (a cement mixing company), will address the change of chloride diffusion current resistivity due to macro and micro cracking, which is inevitable in all concrete structures. The correlation of Chloride Diffusivity with Electrical Current Resistivity of Sound and Cracked Concrete is studied experimentally, and the results compared with Analytically Determined values.

The principal benefit of the research is the formulation of models to predict time-dependent Chloride Penetration into Sound and Cracked Concrete in the Marine environment.