Strength, shrinkage, and permeability performance of seawater concrete

• Given the increasing global concern of freshwater scarcity, the use of seawater in concrete mixtures appears to be a way forward towards achieving sustainable concrete, especially in the case of non-reinforced concrete applications or with the use of noncorrosive reinforcement. This paper reports on the results of an experimental study to compare the freshwater- and seawater-mixed concretes in terms of their strength, shrinkage and permeability performance. The experimental program included the following: (i) compressive strength test (at 3, 7, 28, and 56-day ages); (ii) concrete shrinkage test (at Days 4, 7, 14, 21, 28, and 56 following mixing); and (iii) permeability tests (rapid chloride permeability and water absorption at Days 28 and 56 following mixing). As for the study results, seawater concrete showed a slightly higher early-age (i.e., till Day 7) strength performance than that of freshwater-mixed counterpart, followed by a strength performance that is 7–10% inferior to the freshwater concrete after 28 days or later. Also, the shrinkage of seawater concrete was slightly higher than that of freshwater concrete, with a difference of 5% reported after 56 days following mixing. Finally, the permeability performance of hardened concrete in seawater and freshwater mixtures was similar.

Subject headings

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Samhällsbyggnadsteknik -- Byggproduktion (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Civil Engineering -- Construction Management (hsv//eng)

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Samhällsbyggnadsteknik -- Husbyggnad (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Civil Engineering -- Building Technologies (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Compressive strength

Rapid chloride permeability

Seawater-mixed concrete

Shrinkage test

Sustainability

Water absorption

Byggteknik

Civil engineering

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

kon (subject category)