The importance of chloride content at the concrete surface in assessing the time to corrosion of steel in concrete structures

A literature review in the present study has shown that the chloride ions on the concrete surface exposed to a marine environment including tidal, splash and aerated zones can be accumulated then to increase with time. In order to take this effect into account in a model prediction of the rate of chloride ingresses in concrete, the surface chloride was expressed as a function of time such that (1) constant, (2) linear build-up, (3) square root build-up and (4) square root build-up with an initial set of the surface chloride (a refined model), at a given diffusion coefficient (2 × 10−12 m2/s). As a result, the constant surface chloride model produced the greatest level of chloride penetration, as an initial set of the surface chloride content was overestimated. The rate of chloride ingresses derived from the highest surface chloride led to the greatest risk of chloride-induced corrosion of steel in concrete, whereas the linear and square root build-up models indicated 2–3 times longer duration of corrosion-free service life. The refinement of a surface chloride build-up suggested a more realistic prediction of chloride profile and corrosion risk, thereby imposing the rate of chloride ingresses between the constant surface chloride, and linear or square root build-up.