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Concrete alteration due to 55 years of exposure to river water : Chemical and mineralogical characterisation

Rosenqvist, Martin LU ; Bertron, Alexandra ; Fridh, Katja LU and Hassanzadeh, Manouchehr LU (2017) In Cement and Concrete Research 92. p.110-120
Abstract

This article presents a study on concrete alteration mechanisms due to 55 years of exposure to river water. Many hydro power structures in cold regions suffer from concrete deterioration at the waterline. Progressive disintegration of the concrete surface leads to exposure of the coarse aggregate and eventually the reinforcing steel. Concrete cylinders drilled out at four vertically different locations on the upstream face of a concrete dam were analysed by electron microprobe analysis, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry and scanning electron microscopy. Long-term exposure to the river water, which is regarded as soft water, has led to chemical and mineralogical zonation of the cement paste. Up to five zones with different chemical and... (More)

This article presents a study on concrete alteration mechanisms due to 55 years of exposure to river water. Many hydro power structures in cold regions suffer from concrete deterioration at the waterline. Progressive disintegration of the concrete surface leads to exposure of the coarse aggregate and eventually the reinforcing steel. Concrete cylinders drilled out at four vertically different locations on the upstream face of a concrete dam were analysed by electron microprobe analysis, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry and scanning electron microscopy. Long-term exposure to the river water, which is regarded as soft water, has led to chemical and mineralogical zonation of the cement paste. Up to five zones with different chemical and mineralogical composition, parallel to the upstream face, were observed in the outermost 8–9 mm of the concrete. Decalcification, precipitation of secondary ettringite and the formation of a magnesium-rich silica gel constitute the major changes that define the zones.

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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Characterisation [B], Concrete [E], EPMA, Long-term performance [C], Portland cement [D]
in
Cement and Concrete Research
volume
92
pages
11 pages
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:85001022031
  • wos:000393006400012
ISSN
0008-8846
DOI
10.1016/j.cemconres.2016.11.012
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
e50c4559-ea5e-46f9-95d2-d2e8caf7ef34
date added to LUP
2017-02-03 12:26:54
date last changed
2024-03-30 23:35:41
@article{e50c4559-ea5e-46f9-95d2-d2e8caf7ef34,
  abstract     = {{<p>This article presents a study on concrete alteration mechanisms due to 55 years of exposure to river water. Many hydro power structures in cold regions suffer from concrete deterioration at the waterline. Progressive disintegration of the concrete surface leads to exposure of the coarse aggregate and eventually the reinforcing steel. Concrete cylinders drilled out at four vertically different locations on the upstream face of a concrete dam were analysed by electron microprobe analysis, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry and scanning electron microscopy. Long-term exposure to the river water, which is regarded as soft water, has led to chemical and mineralogical zonation of the cement paste. Up to five zones with different chemical and mineralogical composition, parallel to the upstream face, were observed in the outermost 8–9 mm of the concrete. Decalcification, precipitation of secondary ettringite and the formation of a magnesium-rich silica gel constitute the major changes that define the zones.</p>}},
  author       = {{Rosenqvist, Martin and Bertron, Alexandra and Fridh, Katja and Hassanzadeh, Manouchehr}},
  issn         = {{0008-8846}},
  keywords     = {{Characterisation [B]; Concrete [E]; EPMA; Long-term performance [C]; Portland cement [D]}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{02}},
  pages        = {{110--120}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Cement and Concrete Research}},
  title        = {{Concrete alteration due to 55 years of exposure to river water : Chemical and mineralogical characterisation}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2016.11.012}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.cemconres.2016.11.012}},
  volume       = {{92}},
  year         = {{2017}},
}