Correlation of Accelerated Corrosion and Real Reinforced Concrete Water Structures
Abstract
The service life of reinforced concrete constitutes the initiation and propagation period. Accelerated corrosion tests
are carried out to obtain results in modelling the Service life of reinforced concrete structures. Its erroneous to
undertake a direct linear extrapolation of accelerated test results to real structures in predicting their service life.
This research examines the relationship between the result from accelerated corrosion and real reinforced concrete
water structures. The physical and chemical properties of the materials used in the study were investigated for
compliance for use in reinforced concrete water structures. Concrete of three classes M25, M30 and M35 were
used to cast accelerated corrosion test samples. For each class 9 concrete samples of diameter 100 mm, 130 mm
and 150mm respectively and 300mm long were prepared. A 10 mm diameter bar, 400 mm long was centrally
inserted during casting. After curing the test samples were immersed in a 3.5% solution of sodium chloride solution
under 6 V. The accelerated corrosion specimens were monitored for onset of cracks and stopped when the cracks
were 0.2 mm in width. Using the accelerated corrosion and real reinforced concrete results, a parametric study of
the propagation period was done and a model proposed. From the results the proposed and published propagation
period model compares well. The result from accelerated corrosion and real reinforced concrete water structures
lineally increase for the propagation period. The proposed model can be considered as an input parameter for the
service life of actual reinforced concrete water structures and contribute to their optimum performance.
