Published in 1980
A major cause of concrete bridge deck deterioration is the corrosion of the reinforcing steel which, in turn, is caused by the presence of extremely high concentrations of chloride ions in the concrete. It was believed that the chloride came almost entirely from applications of deicing salts and that the contribution from the concrete mix was insignificant by comparison with the corrosion threshold value. A recent accidental finding of significant amounts of chloride in some concrete aggregates in Virginia, and reports of similar occurrences in other states, prompted a survey to determine the chloride contents of Virginia aggregates being used in concrete for highway construction and maintenance. Aggregates from 104 sources were analyzed for their total chloride and water-soluble chloride contents. The results were examined in the perspective of the current state of knowledge on the corrosion process.
Last updated: January 25, 2024