Controlling Sulfate Attack in Mississippi Department of Transportation Structures
Abstract
At some construction sites in Mississippi, deterioration of concrete in contact with the surrounding soil could be related to the high sulfate content of the adjacent soils. Studies dating to 1966 have documented sulfate attack associated with specific types of sulfide or sulfate-rich soils. Future highway-related construction must include specified procedures and materials that will ensure the service life of concrete construction is not reduced by such aggressive soils. In this project, three portland cements and five pozzolans, which can be used as cement replacements, were investigated to determine which of these cements and/or cement blends could be categorized as sulfate-resistant. Two screening procedures, the University of California Pavement Research Center's Caltrans rapid sulfate test and the American Society for Testing and Materials' Standard C1012 (standard test method for length change), were used to evaluate the cements/blended cements. Results from the Caltrans test identified only one of the blended cements investigated that failed to qualify as sulfate resistant. The results from the bar expansion test (ASTM C1012) indicated that only one cement evaluated would not meet the criterion for an American Concrete Institute (ACI) Class 1 sulfate-resistant cement.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 2010
- Accession Number
- ADA529748
Entities
People
- Billy D. Neeley
- Brian H. Green
- Charles A. Weiss
- Joe G. Tom
- Melvin C. Sykes
- Philip G. Malone
- Toy S. Poople
Organizations
- Engineer Research and Development Center