Service Life Prediction of RC Bridge Structures Exposed to Chloride Environments
Publication: Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 14, Issue 3
Abstract
For a long-span coastal bridge structure, the corrosion initiation time is controlled by the speed of chloride ions transfer and the depassivation process within the structure. These processes are significantly influenced by the actual variation of the environmental conditions on the concrete surface throughout its service life. From the regional climate characteristics through local climate conditions, the microclimate variation on the concrete surface is studied in this research. A set of realistic environmental condition profiles is proposed, based on the exposure conditions and the material properties of the components. Moreover, a 2D integrated corrosion performance assessment model is constructed to capture the change in environmental conditions and simulate the coupled diffusion process and the corrosion performance in the time domain. Two typical locations (Hong Kong and Michigan) are chosen as numerical examples for implementing the proposed corrosion performance assessment model, and control of the environmental factors of the various chloride exposures is highlighted. These factors are used to construct an integral empirical equation together with the general critical material and geometrical parameters.
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Acknowledgments
The writers wish to gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Hong Kong Research Grant Council RGC No. UNSPECIFIED610505 for the development of life cycle cost analysis and management of reinforced/prestressed concrete structures.
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Information & Authors
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Published In
Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 14 • Issue 3 • May 2009
Pages: 164 - 178
Copyright
© 2009 ASCE.
History
Received: Jan 7, 2008
Accepted: Nov 25, 2008
Published online: May 1, 2009
Published in print: May 2009
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