Chloride permeability of reinforced concrete in submerged marine environment

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to analyze the performance of reinforced concrete with 28-day compressive strength of 25 MPa and cement content of 300 kg/m3 used in caissons sustaining two wharfs on the Mediterranean coast. The caissons studied are permanently submerged. The preliminary conclusions suggest that whereas the rate of chloride penetration in submerged concrete is much higher than expected, the absence of oxygen offsets the deleterious effects of this development by substantially raising the chloride ion concentration required to initiate corrosion.