Influence of aggregate content on the migration coefficient of concrete materials using electrochemical method

In order to investigate the effect of coarse aggregate content on the chloride ion migration coefficient of concrete, specimens with different coarse aggregate volume fractions and two water/cement (w/c) ratios of mortar matrix were used. The chloride ion migration coefficient of concrete is obtained using the electrochemical technique to accelerate chloride ion migration in cement-based material and the experimental results were plotted as a function of the fine aggregate volume fraction. The results are analyzed comparing experimental results and theoretical models that represent the concretes as three-phase composite materials. The three phases are the mortar matrix, the coarse aggregate, and the interfacial transition zone between the two. The chloride ion migration coefficient is used to assess the dilution, tortuosity, interfacial transition zone (ITZ) and, percolation effects of coarse aggregate in concrete. It appears that the dilution and tortuosity effects are a dominant factor affecting the chloride ion migration coefficient of concrete in the low volume fraction of coarse aggregate. As the volume fraction of coarse aggregate increases to 40 and 20% in concrete of w/c ratio 0.35 and 0.45, respectively, the ITZ with percolation effects are significantly.