Experimental Studies of the Chloride Permeability of Concrete (1998)

Abstract:

The effects of concrete mix variables on chloride ion permeability were examined using three series of experiments, designed to identify those effects that are measured by the Rapid Chloride Permeability Test. Standard aggregates were used in one series of experiments, but specialized aggregates designed to illustrate the effects of the tortuosity of diffusion paths were used in the other two series. While the volume fraction of aggregate was found to dominate the resistance to chloride permeability, significant effects attributed to interfacial transition zones (ITZs) and tortuosity were also found, particularly for concretes with water-to-cement ratios less than 0.4.