Initiation of Chloride-Induced Reinforcement Corrosion in Concrete Structural Members-Experimentation

This paper presents a comprehensive test program designed to determine the initiation of chloride-induced reinforcement corrosion in concrete structures under salt spray and simultaneous service loads. Five factors deemed to contribute to the initiation of reinforcement corrosion under service conditions are examined, including the concrete cover, crack width, and loading conditions that have not been investigated thus far. A method of experimental calibration for accelerated test results is proposed in the paper. The test program presented in the paper is believed to be the first of its kind in terms of a combination of: 1) quantitative control of environmental parameters; 2) simultaneous application of service loads; and 3) use of full-size structural specimens. Test results produced from the test program are also presented in the paper; detailed analysis of these results will subsequently be submitted for publication.