Service Life Prediction of Concrete Structures Exposed to a Sulfuric Acid Environment

In this study, it was investigated the resistance of OPC, 60% GGBS, 20% PFA and 10% SF mortar specimens against sulfuric acid corrosion. As an index for degree of acid corrosion, the corrosion depth was evaluated. Then, it was found that an increase in the duration of immersion and a decrease in the pH, as expected, resulted in a more severe corrosion irrespective of binders; 60% GGBS mortar specimen was the most resistant to sulfuric acid corrosion. From the laboratory testing of sulfuric acid corrosion, an empirical prediction model was suggested as a power function of time and the pH of sulfuric acid, and was applied to an assessment of concrete structures exposed to an acidic environment. It was found that the empirical model gave a more precise prediction of sulfuric acid deterioration of concrete rather than a conventional model, mostly used for predicting carbonation of concrete.