2008•2008 Concrete Bridge ConferenceFederal Highway AdministrationNational Concrete Bridge CouncilMissouri Department of TransportationAmerican Concrete Institute (ACI)Requires access
Surface Resistivity as an Indicator of Concrete Chloride Penetration Resistance
Richard J. Kessler, Rodney G. Powers, Enrique Vivas, Mario Paredes, Y P Virmani
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Abstract
It is common for the durability requirements of concrete structures built today to have a projected minimum service life of 75 years or more. In order to ensure that a new structure achieves this design life requires the use of high performance concretes made with the latest proven pozzolanic materials. Concrete chloride penetration resistance of concrete is among the most significant properties used to characterize high performance concretes today. To that effect diffusion tests are used, but because of their long duration, they do not lend themselves to measuring the chloride penetration properties of concrete during the course of construction. Surface Resistivity (SR) of water-saturated concrete at several different ages was studied and compared to the diffusion properties of the same concrete. A case is made to use SR as an electrical indicator of concrete chloride penetration resistance because of its strong correlation to diffusion tests, ease of implementation, non-destructive nature, and lower cost than any other test available.