Effects of carbonation on mechanical properties and durability of concrete using accelerated testing method

Abstract

An experimental investigation was carried out to study the effect of carbonation on mechanical properties and durability of concrete. Ordinary portland concretes (OPC) with water/cement ratios of 0.58 and 0.48 and self-compacting concretes (SCC) with water/binder ratios of 0.40 and 0.36 were used in this study. Compressive strength test, splitting strength test, electrical resistivity test, rapid chloride penetration test (RCPT), open circuit potential method and alternative current (AC) impedance method were performed to estimate the properties of concrete. Test results showed that carbonation may compensate some concrete properties such as compressive strength, splitting strength, electrical resistivity and chloride ion penetration. However, corrosion test results showed that carbonation increases corrosion rate of reinforcing steel.