Development of Simulation Model of Chloride Ion Transportation in Cracked Concrete

Abstract

Chloride-induced deterioration is the most important deterioration phenomenon in reinforced concrete structures in marine environments. When a crack occurs in cover concrete, it may initiate and accelerate corrosion of steel reinforcements embedded in the concrete. The performance of the reinforced concrete structure may subsequently decrease even in the early stage of its service life. With the aim to clarify the mechanism of chloride-induced deterioration, this paper reports the results of experimental investigation on chloride ion transportation in cracked concrete and proposes a simulation model for chloride ion transportation in cracked concrete. The zone affected by cracking was treated as the exposed surface of concrete in the proposed model, where chloride transportation was assumed to be governed by the concentration of the chloride ion solution in the crack. In addition, the effects of the crack width and an apparent diffusion coefficient through the cracks on chloride ion transportation were numerically investigated and the applicability of the proposed model was discussed.