Structural lightweight aggregate concrete exposed to marine environment for 5 years

The present paper characterises the chloride penetration into a large array of structural lightweight aggregate concrete (LWAC), after a 5-year exposure period to aggressive marine conditions. The chloride profiles, chloride diffusion coefficients and surface chloride contents were determined and the influence of the main composition parameters and exposure conditions was assessed. Current service life models were evaluated through the estimation of chloride profiles. The results suggest that LWAC can present the same durability as normal weight concrete (NWAC). However, despite having the same chloride diffusion coefficients, the surface chloride content of LWAC tended to be greater than that of NWAC, leading to higher chloride penetration at a given depth. In general, the estimated chloride profiles from existing models did not fit the real results. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study characterises the chloride penetration into structural lightweight aggregate concrete after a 5-year exposure period to aggressive marine conditions. The results suggest that LWAC can present similar durability as NWAC, but with differences in surface chloride content. Existing models did not accurately predict the chloride penetration profiles observed in the study.