Resistance to chloride intrusion of concrete cured at different temperatures

This paper desribes a preliminary investigation of the ability of concrete to protect against the corrosion of reinforcing steel. Two types of tests measured the rate of chloride diffusion. An accelerated corrosion test compared the ability of the concrete to protect against the corrosion of reinforcing steel. Both test methods are described. The results of both tests indicate that at a given water-cement ratio, elevated curing temperatures reduce the ability of portland cement concrete to protect against chloride diffusion and the consequent depassivation of reinforcement. This effect is more pronounced at lower water-cement ratios. These findings should be taken into account in the construction of concrete structures for which durability is a concern.