Effects of DC Stray Current on Concrete Permeability
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 28, Issue 4
Abstract
In the present study, the effects of direct current (DC) stray current on concrete structures were studied with the focus on the effect of concrete rather than corrosion of steel bars. Concrete samples were prepared with different water/cement (w/c) ratio and silica fume (SF) content were submerged in distilled water for 30 days while subjected to a voltage of 50 V direct current (VDC). The effects DC stray current on the properties of concrete were determined by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and rapid chloride penetration (RCP) tests. The obtained results showed that DC stray current will increase permeability of the concrete. The critical role of w/c ratio and SF additive on the degradation effects created by DC stray current was investigated. Moreover, a mechanism based on the migration of calcium and hydroxyl ions out of the pore solution and the dissolution of precipitates from the hydrated phase was proposed for the explanation of DC potential on the degradation of concrete.
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Acknowledgments
A. Aghajani would like to express my gratitude to A. Saatchi, M.A Golozar and K. Raeissi, the Professor and the Assistant Professor of the Department of Materials Engineering of Isfahan University of Technology, Saeid Shabani and Fereshteh Samiee, Lecturers of the Subsea R&D Center at the Isfahan University of Technology, and everyone who supported him throughout the course of this study.
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Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 28 • Issue 4 • April 2016
Copyright
© 2015 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Nov 7, 2014
Accepted: Apr 15, 2015
Published online: Oct 27, 2015
Discussion open until: Mar 27, 2016
Published in print: Apr 1, 2016
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