Chloride ions are known to promote the corrosion of steel in reinforced concrete. This project was undertaken to investigate the efficacy of washing, to reduce chloride content and chloride ion uptake. The project consists of a laboratory and a field component over a period of four years.
In the field component test sections of a coastal bridge have been pressure washed on a once per year and twice per year schedule. A set of washing trials is also being conducted on concrete blocks exposed to salt water in the laboratory, to determine whether chloride ions can be removed from the concrete and whether the ingress of chloride ions can be reduced. After two years, the effect of washing on removing chloride ions was inconclusive, but washing did reduce the uptake of chloride ions by up to 89%. Chloride levels decreased with a washing cycle of once per day, but no change was observed with washing cycles of once per week or once per month.
Based on these results, field testing on the bridge was discontinued. The laboratory washing will continue for another two years.
Chloride ions are known to promote the corrosion of steel in reinforced concrete. This project was undertaken to investigate the efficacy of washing, ...
The Oregon Department of Transportation investigated periodic bridge washing as a way to possibly remove chloride from the concrete and stop further u...
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