Journal Published Online: 07 February 2019
Volume 8, Issue 2

Culvert Prototype Made with Seawater Concrete: Materials Characterization, Monitoring, and Environmental Impact

CODEN: ACEMF9

Abstract

Recent developments in concrete research have considered the possible advantages related to the use of seawater as mixing water for concrete production. Specifically, the SEACON-INFRAVATION project investigated the performance of seawater concrete for the construction of sustainable and durable reinforced concrete structures. Besides laboratory activities aimed at characterizing the performance of seawater concrete and corrosion behavior of various types of embedded reinforcements, a demonstration project was executed in Italy. The prototype consisted of a concrete culvert built along the A1 motorway, close to the city of Piacenza, Italy. The demonstration activities led to testing of the on-site use of seawater and assessment of the corrosion conditions of the embedded reinforcements, allowing a thorough understanding of long-term durability and sustainability. For this purpose, the prototype culvert was divided into six segments; each segment was representative of a combination of type of concrete (reference, seawater, and recycled-asphalt-pavement concrete) and type of reinforcement (carbon steel, austenitic and duplex stainless steels, and glass fiber–reinforced polymer). This article presents concrete mix designs, materials characterization, embedded probes used to monitor the corrosion of the reinforcements, and test results obtained at various stages of execution and service conditions. In addition, a sampling campaign, one year from construction, is included. Finally, mention is made of the life cycle assessment and life cycle cost analyses performed to quantify the long-term benefits of seawater concrete combined with corrosion-resistant reinforcement.

Author Information

Redaelli, Elena
Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta,” Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, Milan, Italy
Arrigoni, Alessandro
Department of Civil Engineering, University of Toronto, Canada
Carsana, Maddalena
Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta,” Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
Dotelli, Giovanni
Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta,” Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
Gastaldi, Matteo
Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta,” Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
Lollini, Federica
Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta,” Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
Bertola, Federica
Research & Development, Buzzi Unicem, Casale Monferrato, Italy
Canonico, Fulvio
Research & Development, Buzzi Unicem, Casale Monferrato, Italy
Nanni, Antonio
Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
Pages: 20
Price: $25.00
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Stock #: ACEM20180114
ISSN: 2379-1357
DOI: 10.1520/ACEM20180114