Techno Press
You logged in as. Techno Press

Computers and Concrete
  Volume 13, Number 2, February 2014 , pages 187-207
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12989/cac.2014.13.2.187
 


Chloride diffusivity of concrete: probabilistic characteristics at meso-scale
Zichao Pan, Xin Ruan and Airong Chen

 
Abstract
    This paper mainly discusses the influence of the aggregate properties including grading, shape, content and distribution on the chloride diffusion coefficient, as well as the initiation time of steel corrosion from a probabilistic point of view. Towards this goal, a simulation method of random aggregate structure (RAS) based on elliptical particles and a procedure of finite element analysis (FEA) at meso-scale are firstly developed to perform the analysis. Next, the chloride diffusion coefficient ratio between concrete and cement paste 𝐷app𝐷cp is chosen as the index to represent the effect of aggregates on the chloride diffusion process. Identification of the random distribution of this index demonstrates that it can be viewed as actually having a normal distribution. After that, the effect of aggregates on 𝐷app𝐷cp is comprehensively studied, showing that the appropriate properties of aggregates should be decided by both of the average and the deviation of 𝐷app𝐷cp . Finally, a case study is conducted to demonstrate the application of this mesoscopic method in predicting the initiation time of steel corrosion in reinforced concrete (RC) structures. The mesoscopic probabilistic method developed in this paper can not only provide more reliable evidences on the proper grading and shape of aggregates, but also play an important role in the probability-based design method.
 
Key Words
    concrete structures; durability; mathematical modeling; uncertainty
 
Address
Zichao Pan: Department of Bridge Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
Xin Ruan and Airong Chen: Department of Bridge Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
 

Techno-Press: Publishers of international journals and conference proceedings.       Copyright © 2025 Techno Press
P.O. Box 33, Yuseong, Daejeon 305-600 Korea, Tel: +82-42-828-7996, Fax : +82-42-828-7997, Email: admin@techno-press.com