Accelerated short-term techniques to evaluate the corrosion performance of steel in fly ash blended concrete.

Abstract: In this investigation, the influence of mineral admixture, namely fly ash (FA) on the corrosion performance of steel in mortar and concrete was studied and evaluated by some accelerated short-term techniques in sodium chloride solutions. Electrochemical techniques such as open circuit potential measurements and anodic polarization studies were carried out. An impressed voltage technique and macrocell corrosion study was also carried out to understand the optimum level of replacement of FA with better corrosion resistance properties. Results are compared with conventional gravimetric weight loss measurements. The alkalinity and the free chloride contents are estimated. The FA replacement levels namely 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% with respect to ordinary Portland cement (OPC) was chosen for the present study and the results are compared with OPC specimens without FA. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]