Chloride ingress and macro-cell corrosion of steel in concrete made with recycled brick aggregate

An investigation on chloride ingress and macro-cell corrosion of steel bars in concrete made with recycled brick aggregate (RBA) was carried out. As control cases, virgin brick aggregate (BA) and stone aggregate (SA) were also investigated. Both cylindrical and cracked prism specimens were studied for 16 different cases. The prism specimens were made with a segmented steel bar providing electrical connection from outside of the specimens to measure macro-cell corrosion current continuously under seawater splash exposure for a period of 30 d using a data logger. Cylindrical specimens were submerged in 3% NaCl solution at a temperature of 40 degrees C to investigate chloride ingress in concrete made with RBA, BA, and SA after 120 and 180 d. Half-cell potential, corrosion area, and depths of corrosion were also investigated. The chloride ingress as well as corrosion of steel bars in concrete made with the different types of aggregate is ordered as RBA > BA > SA.