Comparison of Two Methods to Assess the Resistance of Concrete to Chloride Ion Penetration
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 26, Issue 4
Abstract
The industry standard currently accepted method for assessing the resistance of concrete to penetration of chloride ions is commonly known as the rapid chloride permeability (RCP) test. The test is time-consuming and laborious and the user must be extremely careful to ensure accuracy, making it problematic for inclusion as a performance variable in a concrete specification. A potential alternative to the RCP test is the surface resistivity (SR) test, a method that is dramatically easier, faster, and requires far less special care than the RCP test. The research reported herein was directed toward determining a correlation between RCP and SR test measurements for Tennessee bridge deck concrete (based on cylinders collected from concrete bridge decks being constructed across the state) and evaluating the appropriateness of the SR test as an alternative to the RCP test for inclusion in a specification for bridge deck concrete. Results of the testing showed a clear correlation between the two methods and identified potential limits for possible inclusion as a performance requirement in a specification.
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Acknowledgments
Special thanks is extended to TDOT for their continued interest and financial support. In addition, TDOT personnel and participating concrete producers deserve special mention because of their willingness to go above and beyond their job duties to ensure proper care and transportation of samples. Thanks are also extended to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) personnel who have provided advice and counsel as a part of the research review panel. Any opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of TDOT or FHWA.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 26 • Issue 4 • April 2014
Pages: 698 - 704
Copyright
© 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Nov 15, 2012
Accepted: Apr 18, 2013
Published online: Apr 20, 2013
Discussion open until: Sep 20, 2013
Published in print: Apr 1, 2014
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