Contribution for durability studies based on chloride profiles analysis of real marine structures in different marine aggressive zones

Abstract

Abstract Real chloride profiles from structures present for more than 40\u202fyears in different marine aggressive zones were analyzed in this paper. Concrete cores were extracted in order to determine chlorides concentrations by X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy technique and for determination of concrete properties through mechanical and physical assays. The results obtained by chloride profiles analysis showed that all the structures presented chlorides concentrations higher than 0.05%, in relation to concrete mass, up to 5\u202fcm depth, independently of the marine aggressive zone where the structure was present. Moreover, structures located in splash and tidal zones presented higher chloride concentrations. In this way, structures built near the high tide level presented expressive chloride concentrations on its profiles. Furthermore, it was observed, by the chloride profiles, that the analysis of the structure position in relation to the predominant wind direction is a more important issue in comparison to the analysis of the structure altimetric position in relation to sea level. The presence of coating paint on concrete surface shown that this layer can restrict chloride surface deposition affecting the chloride concentration at the peak, however, the paint layer does not affect the peak position in the profile.