Corrosion performance of concrete cylinder piles: Fid-Bau Portal

Corrosion performance of concrete cylinder piles

Lau, K. / Sagües, A.A. / Yao, L. / Powers, R.G.

Posttensioned concrete cylinder piles produced using a centrifugally cast, vibrated, roller-compacted process have shown promising corrosion resistance in marine environments. Three bridges in the Florida panhandle with ~40 years in aggressive marine service and one newly constructed marine bridge utilizing concrete cylinder piles were examined. The older marine bridges showed minimal corrosion distress despite a low design concrete cover over the steel hoop reinforcement (2 cm to 4 cm). Typical concrete distress included minor rust staining (not necessarily indicating corrosion of reinforcement steel) and thin longitudinal cracks (likely caused by mechanical damage from pile driving). Chloride ion diffusivity was low, in the order of 1 x 10^-9 cm²/s. Other measured parameters such as concrete resistivity, porosity, and water absorption indicate low permeability. Chloride analysis of cracked and uncracked concrete cores from the older bridges in this study did not show pronounced preferential chloride penetration at cracks. Chloride analysis from the contemporary marine bridge did show some preferential transport of chloride ions at shallow depths through cracks with further evidence of lower electrical resistivity indicating enhanced electrolyte transport there. Simplified corrosion durability modeling projections indicate that a moderate relaxation of a current 7.6 cm cover requirement may be made without significantly compromising the service life requirements of cylinder piles.