Work

Synergistic Impact of Entrained Air and Fly Ash on Chloride Ingress in Concrete Pavement: An Electrical Resistivity Model Approach

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Ensuring the durability of concrete pavements against chloride ingress is critical, yet the relationship between electrical resistivity and chloride penetration remains underexplored. This study evaluates the effectiveness of entrained air and fly ash in mitigating chloride ingress using an electrical resistivity model and surface resistivity tests. Concrete samples with varying entrained air contents (0% to 10%) and Class C or Class F fly ash underwent three-year ponding tests in temperature-controlled indoor water baths and outdoor CaCl2-NaCl brine solutions. The results indicate that lower entrained air contents led to a more rapid increase in resistivity, with concrete mixes incorporating Class C fly ash exhibiting 1.5 times greater resistivity gains than those with Class F fly ash. Surface resistivity tests revealed that reaction factors were 67% higher in specimens with 3.5% entrained air compared to 10.0%, while decreasing by 57% and 41% in concrete mixes containing Class F and Class C fly ash, respectively, across all chloride concentrations. Using back-calculated environmental factors, corrosion initiation potential in concrete pavements was projected for exposure periods of up to 50 years. These findings provide insights for optimizing entrained air and fly ash formulations to enhance pavement performance and durability.

Source: Buildings

DOI: 10.3390/buildings15081215

Authors: Youngguk Seo, Jin Hwan Kim

Institutions: Kennesaw State University, Korea Expressway Corporation (South Korea)

Language: English

Topic: Concrete Corrosion and Durability

Subfield: Civil and Structural Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Industry, innovation and infrastructure, Sustainable cities and communities

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137