The durability performance of plain and blended cements in sabkha soils (soils contaminated with high concentrations of chloride andsulfate salts) was investigated. Specimens placed in the sabkha soil were obtained at periodic intervals and evaluated by conducting strength loss measurements, corrosion potentials monitoring, and corrosion rate measurements at regular intervals. Results indicate that the strength reduction after 540 days of exposure to sabkha soils wasgreater in silica fume cement mortar specimens compared with plain and other blended cements. Reinforcement corrosion was, however, much lower in silica fume cement concrete than in plain, fly ash, and blast furnace slag cements. This indicates that use of silica fume cement in structural components placed in sabkha soils will be beneficial from the viewpoint of reinforcement corrosion. Additional protective measures, such as application of a water-resistant epoxy-based coating, will have to be adopted to minimize deterioration related to sulfate salts
Samenvatting