Theoretical Approach to Calculate Surface Chloride Content $C_s$ of Submerged Concrete under Sea Water Laden Environment

The ingress of chloride ions plays a crucial role for service life design of reinforced concrete structures. In view of durability design of concrete structures under marine environment, one of the most essential parameters is the surface chloride content of concrete. However, on the basis of the results of in-situ investigation, this value has been determining in the numerous studies on the durability design of concrete structures. Hence, it is necessary to confirm the range of the surface chloride content in order to establish a unified durability design system of concrete. This study suggests a rational and practical way to calculate the maximum surface chloride content of submerged concrete under marine environment. This approach starts with the calculation of the amount of chloride ingredients in normal sea water. The capillary pore structure is modeled by numerical simulation model HYMOSTRUC and it is assumed to be completely saturated by the salt ingredients of sea water. In order to validate this approach, the total chloride content of the mortar and concrete slim disc specimen was measured after the immersion into the artificial sea water solution. Additionally, the theoretical, the experimental and in-situ investigation results of other researchers are compiled and analyzed. Based on this approach, it will follow to calculate the maximum surface chloride content of concrete at tidal zone, where the environment can be considered as a condition of dry-wetting cycles.