Chloride Diffusivity and Life Prediction of Cracked RC Beams Exposed to Different Wet-Dry Ratios and Exposure Duration

Effects of crack width, wet-dry ratio, and exposure duration of wet-dry cycles on chloride ingress of RC beams were experimentally studied. Crack widths of 40, 70, 90, and 120 microns were, respectively, induced by three-point flexural loading and four wet-dry ratios (seawater spraying 1 d in one wet-dry cycle) of 1 : 3, 1 : 7, 1 : 11, and 1 : 15 were selected. Chloride contents of RC beams were tested every 32 d (or 16 d) of wet-dry cycles. Results show that chloride content increased significantly when crack width was larger than 90 microns and wet-dry ratio was 1 : 3, and it increased slightly when crack width was 120 microns and wet-dry ratio was 1 : 7, 1 : 11, and 1 : 15. The chloride content on steel bar surface became the largest when crack width was less than 90 microns and wet-dry ratio was 1 : 7, and while crack width was equal to or greater than 90 microns and wet-dry ratio was 1 : 3, it was the largest. Based on the testing results, chloride diffusion model and prediction model of residual service life of RC beams were suggested considering combined effects of crack width and exposure duration. The predicted residual service lives were corresponding well with experimental results and they decreased as crack width increased.