Effect of Temperature and Acidity of Sulfuric Acid on Concrete Properties
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 29, Issue 10
Abstract
Concrete corrosion caused by sulfuric acid attack is a known phenomenon in sewer systems, resulting in significant economic losses and environmental problems. However, there is a scarcity of reported laboratory simulations and experimental work investigating the contributing factors controlling the corrosion. In this investigation, funded by the U.K.’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the effect of temperature and the acidity of sulfuric acid solution on concrete specimens extracted from brand-new concrete sewers has been investigated. In this investigation, the concrete samples are submerged in three sulfuric acid solutions (, 1, and 2) for 91 days under different temperatures (10, 20, and 30°C). Mass loss and compressive strength of the concrete specimens were tested and recorded at 7, 14, 28, 42, 56, and 91 days, providing interesting data for visualizing the changes taking place in the concrete samples (change in properties) during the time of immersion. The results revealed that samples overall mass increased at the early stages of the corrosion process. It also was observed that the overall mass of the samples decreased significantly at the later stages of the testing process with respect to the acidity of the solutions used. Although the change in temperature did not have a significant effect on the compressive strength of the tested samples, the rise in temperature, however, had a considerable effect on the mass loss of the concrete samples that were immersed in the most aggressive solution (i.e., and ) at 91 days. This research clearly demonstrated a high correlation between the acidity of the solution and the rate of corrosion with respect to time.
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Acknowledgments
The authors’ sincere thanks go to the EPSRC grant, EP/I032150/1—“Assessing Current State of Buried Sewer Systems and Their Remaining Safe Life”—which made materialization of the present work possible. Thanks also extend to the British Precast Concrete Federation (BPCF) for its constructive comments and supportive role in providing the required concrete pipe (a real life-size sewer pipe) for sampling purposes. The authors wish also to thank Dr. Alan Staple from the Chemical Laboratory at the University of Greenwich for his supportive comments and assistance, in addition to the Department of Civil Engineering concrete technology laboratory staff at the University of Greenwich (where the authors were based for the duration of this research) for their continuous support in terms of facilities, infrastructure, and technical assistance. Finally, the authors would like to thank postgraduate student, Mr. Upul Chandrasekara, for his participation in the laboratory work.
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©2017 American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Received: May 3, 2016
Accepted: Mar 8, 2017
Published online: Jun 9, 2017
Published in print: Oct 1, 2017
Discussion open until: Nov 9, 2017
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