An Experimental Study on the Concrete Durability

Corneliu BOB Professor Politehnica University Timioara, Romania

cbob@mail.dnttm.ro Corneliu Bob, born 1939, received his civil engineering degree and PhD from the University Politehnica of Timisoara, Romania. He published many papers and books in the field of: RC structural analysis; building rehabilitation; new concrete types; durability.

Ovidiu ABRI Civil Engineering,PhD Politehnica University Timioara, Romania

apri@mail.dnttm.ro Ovidiu Abri, born 1960, received his civil engineering degree and PhD from the University Politehnica of Timisoara, Romania. Specialised as project manager and consultant in building and construction industry from Romania.

Summary
The paper provides a tentative for a practical model of assessing the corrosion of reinforcing steel in concrete structures. A theoretical model as well as a formula for both the carbonation depth and chloride ion penetration is presented. Experimental programme presents the influence of carbon dioxide on depth of carbonation. Keywords: Concrete, Durability, Reinforcement corrosion, Concrete carbonation, Chloride ion penetration, Experimental determination of carbonation, Phenolphthalein test.

1. Introduction
Reinforced concrete structures that are subjected to environmental conditions are likely, after a certain period of exposure, to exhibit signs of distress initial period of reinforcement corrosion process due to the concrete carbonation and/or the ingress of chlorides. Theoretical calculations and modelling of the depth of penetration in certain time demonstrate the difficulties of involving, with real influence, of the important parameters. But for engineers, who have to study the durability of the concrete structures, a quantitative model of reinforcement corrosion is necessary. Such useful model, which does not need experimental determinations, is offered in this paper. The paper deals with a large experimental programme concerning the carbonation of the concrete. The experimental determinations are used for assessing the stage of reinforcement corrosion in existing structures. The tests reported in the paper refer to 5 types of the concretes and 6 different concentrations of CO2 . The duration of the experimental programme was of 930 days ( 2,5 years ) when the samples were kept in the special installation with different concentration of CO2 . Some interesting experimental results are reported in the paper. The correlation depth of carbonation vs. concrete strength and the correlation depth of carbonation vs. CO2 concentration are presented.

2. A theoretical model of carbonations and chloride penetration [3]

The initial period occurs chiefly in two different ways: carbonation of the concrete surrounding the reinforcement and presence of chloride. The mechanism of concrete carbonations is similar with chloride ingress because some factors of influence are the same; chloride ingress depends on the many other factors than concrete carbonation.

A theoretical model of carbonation or chloride penetration is presented in Fig 1. The principal correlation, which characterizes the reinforcement corrosion an important part of concrete durabilityis the depth of carbonation or chloride penetration and the time of CO2 or/and Claction. Main factors influencing carbonation and chloride ingress are: carbonation dioxide and chloride concentration, environmental conditions, permeation properties and binding capacity or chemical reaction. A numerical calculation method for both initial period (time until deterioration starts) and corrosion process period (time of deterioration ) is presented in Table 1.

Fig. 1. A theorethical model of carbonations or chloride penetration

Table 1. A quantitative model of reinforcement corrosion

_ INITIAL PERIOD x - average depth of carbonation or chloride penetration, mm; _ 150 c k d x= t f c - concrete compressive strength, N/mm2; fc t - time of CO2 or/and Cl- action, years; Numerical values of c,k and d: Carbonation process Chloride ion penetration

c - cement type - CEM I 52,5 I 42,5 II ACement II B (R) (R) S32,5R 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 c k - environmental conditions Environmental Outdoor Indoor conditions Protected Average

c - cement type - CEM I 42,5II AIII A Cement II B III A I52,5 S32,5R 2.0 1.00 0.90 0.75 0.67 c k - environmental conditions Wet Environmental Value of k = k1 k2 concrete conditions 350 C 0-5 5-15 15-25 25-35 60 70-75 80-85 > 90 RH, % Temp 45 0.67 0.75 1.00 1.25 1.50 k1 % 50 85 100 1.0 0.7 0.5 0.3 k RH 0.75 1.00 0.75 k2 d concentration of CO2 d concentration of chloride ion % 0.03 0.10 0% in % of surface 20% 50% 65% 85% CO2 in front concentration 0.36 1.20 g/m3 1.00 2.00 2.00 1.00 0.50 0.33 0.16 d d Note: % of surface concentration represents critical chloride concentrations (around 0.2% by weight of cement content for carbonated concrete and 0.4% for noncarbonated concrete) from chloride environment.

CORROSION PROCESS PERIOD

Influence on corrosion rate (CR) Environmental conditions Indoor Outdoor Intensive Qualitative No significantly corrosion if RH 60 % Lightly CR in standard atmosphere Averagely CR in industrial environmental conditions Highly CR with salt solutions Very highly CR with intense solutions Quantitative vc, mm/year 0.04 0.10 0.20 0.30 0.60 1.80

3. The experimental program

The target of the experimental programme was: 1. The checking of different theoretical formulas for depth of carbonation 2. Completion numerical values of d coefficient (Table 1) for other CO2 concentration Concrete test specimens have been kept in accelerated carbonation equipment (Fig. 2): The experimental program had 2,5 years duration. Throughout this period of time 4215 concrete powdery tests have been drawled and analyzed from pH point of view. The next parameters of the experimental programme have been taken into account: - Types of the concretes: C8/10, C12/15, C16/20, C20/25, C25/30 - Concentration of CO2: 0,07%, 0,10%, 0,15%, 5%, 25%, 50% Fig. 2. The equipment for accelerated carbonation - Time of CO2 action (days): (i) 30, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, 270, 300, 660 days for C02 concentration of 5%, 25%, 50% (ii) 30, 60, 90, 300, 360, 390, 420, 540, 570, 930 days for C02 concentration of 0,07%, 0,10%, 0,15% - Environmental condition: - indoor, RH - Temperature: 20 C - Cement type: I 42,5 R - Initial concrete pH: 11,57. Throughout experimental period pH variation has been followed up depending of: types of the concretes, studied depth, time of CO2 action and concentration of CO2.
0

- Studied depths: 0-5 mm, 5-10 mm, 1015 mm, 15-20 mm, 20-25 mm, 25-30 mm

60%

4. Experimental results
4.1. The checking of different theoretical formulas for depth of carbonation.
Depth of carbonation obtained from experimental tested were compared with theoretical depths of carbonation, calculated with formula proposed by Parrott (1), Duval (2) and 3 variants of the formula proposed by C. Bob (3), (4), (5). x = 521 t e ( 0,05 fc ) [ mm ] 1 x= 0,06 365 t [ cm ] 2,1 f b (1) (2)

x=

150 c k d t [ mm ] fc 150 c k d x= t [ mm ] 2 2 fc 3 150 c k d x= t [ mm ] 2 2,5 f c 3

_

(3)

(4) (5)

Experimental and theoretical values of depth of carbonation on different CO2 concentrations and different periods of time are showed in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4.
30
30

270 days Concentration CO2: 5%

25

X ex p Form3 Form4 Form5 Form1 Form2

90 days Concentration CO2: 50%

25

Xexp Form3 Form4 Form5 Form1 Form2

20

20

X [ mm ]

15

X [ mm ]
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

15

10

10

0 5 10 15 20 25 30
2

35

40

45

50

fc [ N/mm2 ]

fc [ N/mm ]

Fig. 3. Depth of carbonation vs concrete strength for CO2 concentration of 5%

Fig. 4. Depth of carbonation vs concrete strength for CO2 concentration of 50% Visual representation of front and depth of carbonation was also put in evidence by phenolphthalein test and is presented in Fig. 5. From this test some conclusions can be pointed: The depth of carbonation from the two determinations are similar (5-30 mm); the influence of the drilling hole is very clear from the photo; the carbonation front has a random distribution. The concrete sample is carbonated on variable depths: a) between 9 mm and 35 mm for C16/20 for a CO2 concentration of 25% after 660 days (Figure 5a, left side). b) between 5 mm and 28 mm for C16/20 for a CO2 concentration of 0,15% after 939 days (Figure 5b, right side).

(a) (b) Fig. 5. Phenolphthalein test on the samples of C16/20 concrete class with two CO2 concentration

4.2. Completion numerical values of d coefficient (table 1) for other CO2 values of concentration.
Taking into account formula (3), proposed by C. Bob, the coefficient d is:

d=

xexp f c 150 c k t

(6)

A number of 152 depths carbonation was experimentally identified (x exp). Numerical values of coefficient d function of CO2 concentration are plotted in Fig. 6 and Fig. 7. From these experimental data, a linear correlation d - CO2 was obtained for different concrete class.
5,0 4,5 4,0 3,5 3,0 2,5 C 8/10 C 12/15 C 20/25 C 25/30
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 C 8/10 C 12/15 C 16/20 C 20/25 C 25/30

C 20/25 C 25/30

C 25/30
2,0 1,5 1,0

C 20/25

C 16/20 C 12/15

C 8/10
0,5 0,0 0,06 0,08 0,10 0,12

C 12/15

C 8/10
0

0,14

0,16

10

20

30

40

50

60

Concentration CO2 [%]

Concentration CO2 [%]

Fig. 6. Coefficient d function of CO2 ( 0 15 % concentration)

Fig. 7. Coefficient d function of CO2 ( 5 50 % concentration )

The correlations d function of concrete class are presented in Fig.8 and Fig. 9.
10 9 8 7 6 5
3 5

CO2 Concentration: 5% CO2 Concentration: 25% CO2 Concentration: 50%

4

CO2 Conc entration: 0,07% CO2 Conc entration: 0,10% CO2 Conc entration: 0,15%

0.07% 0.10%

50%
4 3

25%
2

2 1 0 0 10 20 30 40

5%

0.15%
0

50

10

20

30

40

50

60

fc [N/mm ]

fc [N/mm ]

Fig. 8. Coefficient d vs concrete class for ( 0.07 0.15) % CO2 concentration

Fig. 9. Coefficient d vs concrete class for ( 5 50) % CO2 concentration

A combined diagram regarding coefficient d vs. concrete class, for all concentrations of CO2, is presented in Fig. 10.

10 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 Concentration: Concentration: Concentration: Concentration: Concentration: Concentration: 0, 07% 0, 10% 0, 15% 5% 25% 50%

C=50%
4

C=0.15% C=25% C=0.10%

C=5%
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
2

C=0.07%
40 45 50 55 60

From the reached experimental data it was ascertained that once the CO2 concentration is grown up the concrete carbonation grade grows also but not proportionally. A possible explanation could be given by the processes which take place in heterogeneous environment, such as carbonation is: there is no direct proportionality between the concentration of the reactant (CO2) and its display of speed. By consequence during t time, the reaction can not be produced no matter the reactant concentration degree. This was the reason for which two of coefficient calculus formula of d have been proposed:
(7) (8)

fc [ N / mm ]

Fig. 10. Coefficient d vs. concrete class for all CO2 concentrations d = 0,5 + 0,02 f c + 200 C CO 2 d = 0,5 + 0,06 f c + 2 C CO2

where c CO2 - carbon dioxide concentration in absolute concentrations. Formula (7) applies at CO2 Table 2. The coefficient d function of CO2 concentration concentration smaller than 1% and formula (8) makes references at CO2 Nr.Crt. CO2 concentration d concentration bigger than 1%. 1. 0.03 % 0.95
2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 0.07 % 0.10 % 0.15 % 5% 25 % 50 % 1.05 1.10 1.20 1.80 2.20 2.70

This calculate values of coefficient d, which have to introduce the influence of CO2 concentration are to be used in Formula (3) for obtaining the average _ depth of carbonation x . For practical use the values of coefficient d function of CO2 concentration are presented in Tab. 2.

5. Conclusions
1) The theoretical studies provide: A theoretical model as well as some quantitative formulas of reinforcement corrosion for both time until deterioration starts and time of corrosion process period are presented in the work. The theoretical model and formula for carbonation depth have introduced an important parameter concrete comprehensive strength.

2) Results of experimental data showed: The difficulty to compare different computational models for carbonation depth and the need of their improvement. The significant variability of carbonation depth with CO2 concentration, time, concrete strength, etc. The correlation between the depth of carbonation and CO2 concentration was expressed by two equations: for (0 - 0.15) % concentration and for (5 50) % concentration of CO2. The depth of carbonation is influenced by CO2 concentration in correlation with concrete strength.

Acknowledgment:
The authors are very grateful to Mr. Ionel Balcu, PhD and Mr. Cristian Tnasie, PhD, Scientific Researchers at National Institute of Research and Development for Electrochemistry and Condensed Mater INCDEMC Timioara, Romnia, for their help at performing of experimental programme.

References: [1] BOB C., The model of corrosion of the reinforcement in concrete, Proceeding of the Symposium ICCPDC, Timisoara1986. [2] BOB C., Some aspects concerning corrosion of reinforced, Proceedings of the International Conference: The Protection of Concrete, Dundee, September 1990. [3] BOB C., A theoretical model of reinforcement corrosion, Proceedings of the Symposium: New Requirements for Structures and their Reliability, Prague, June 1994, pp. 85-90. [4] DUVAL R., La durabilite des armatures et du beton denrobage. La Durabilite des Betons, Presses de lEcole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussees, Paris, 1992. [5] PAROTT L. J., Carbonation, corrosion and standardization. Protection of Concrete, September 1990, Dundee. [6] SIEMES A. J. M., Durability of buildings: a reliability analysis. Heron, Delft University, vol. 30, no. 3, 1985. [7] TUUTTI K., Effect of cement type and different additions on service life, Proceedings of the International Conference: Concrete2000, Dundee, September 1993.