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Carbonation of concrete bridge structures in three South African localities

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 220-227).

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Yam, Wood Kuen
Other Authors: Alexander, Mark Gavin
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: Department of Civil Engineering 2014
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access_status_str Open Access
author Yam, Wood Kuen
author2 Alexander, Mark Gavin
author_browse Alexander, Mark Gavin
Yam, Wood Kuen
author_facet Alexander, Mark Gavin
Yam, Wood Kuen
author_sort Yam, Wood Kuen
collection Thesis
description Includes bibliographical references (leaves 220-227).
format Thesis
id oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/7427
institution University of Cape Town (South Africa)
language eng
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:34:00.978Z
license_str Not specified — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository
publishDate 2014
publishDateRange 2014
publishDateSort 2014
publisher Department of Civil Engineering
publisherStr Department of Civil Engineering
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source_str UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository
spelling oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/7427 Carbonation of concrete bridge structures in three South African localities Yam, Wood Kuen Alexander, Mark Gavin Mackechnie, James R Civil Engineering Includes bibliographical references (leaves 220-227). The rate of carbonation for the localities of the Cape Peninsula, Durban (i.e. Durban - KwaZulu Natal South Coast) and Johannesburg (i.e. the motorway system and between Heidelberg Road and Geldenhuis interchanges on the N3 freeway) were studied in order to derive carbonation prediction models for each of these localities. The derivation of the prediction models was based on field carbonation data measured from approximately 30 in-service bridges in each locality. One of the uses of the derived models was to allow the preparation of maintenance plans so as to avoid carbonation-induced corrosion for structures in these localities. Since the rate of carbonation depends strongly on material and environmental factors, the carbonation data from each locality were analysed separately on the grounds that these localities have different climatic conditions. The data within each locality represent different material and exposure conditions, and the data were therefore grouped according to the concrete strength grade (as a measure of concrete quality) and exposure conditions, prior to statistical analysis. Based on the method of least squares, as well as integration of the understanding of the process of carbonation and knowledge of climatic conditions of each locality, carbonation prediction models for a variety of concretes for each locality were derived. Results show that bridge structures in the Johannesburg locality have the highest carbonation rate due to the relatively dry environment throughout the year. Bridges in Durban locality exhibit a lower carbonation rate than Johannesburg bridges, but higher than Cape Peninsula bridges owing to shorter rainfall duration and higher temperature. In addition, the carbonation rates of both exposed and sheltered elements with similar concrete strength grades for bridges in Durban are very similar, i.e. exposure condition has little influence on carbonation rate for these elements. The same is true for bridges in the Johannesburg locality. It is surmised that short precipitation times and high relative humidity in Durban locality make the near surface moisture content of exposed and sheltered elements very similar. Likewise, it is surmised that short rainfall duration and low relative humidity in Johannesburg locality result in essentially the same near surface moisture content of concrete elements throughout the exposure time. The data in Durban locality show that old concretes have a slower carbonation rate than modem concretes with the same concrete strength grade. This is likely due to the changes in cement properties over the years, related to the need for fast track development for modem structures. This finding indicates that the prediction models are not suitable for carbonation predictions for future structures (produced by modem cements) as the rates of carbonation will be different. Oxygen Permeability Index (OPI) was investigated in an attempt to predict the rate of carbonation. According to the philosophy and testing procedures for OPI, it is considered that early age OPI may be superior to concrete strength grade for carbonation predictions because of better characterisation of the permeability of (cover) concrete. However, due to the lack of early age OPI information for the data, using OPI as a carbonation prediction tool was not entirely successful. Further research in this regard is worthwhile. 2014-09-12T06:59:25Z 2014-09-12T06:59:25Z 2004 Master Thesis Masters MSc http://hdl.handle.net/11427/7427 eng application/pdf Department of Civil Engineering Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment University of Cape Town
spellingShingle Civil Engineering
Yam, Wood Kuen
Carbonation of concrete bridge structures in three South African localities
thesis_degree_str Master's
title Carbonation of concrete bridge structures in three South African localities
title_full Carbonation of concrete bridge structures in three South African localities
title_fullStr Carbonation of concrete bridge structures in three South African localities
title_full_unstemmed Carbonation of concrete bridge structures in three South African localities
title_short Carbonation of concrete bridge structures in three South African localities
title_sort carbonation of concrete bridge structures in three south african localities
topic Civil Engineering
url http://hdl.handle.net/11427/7427
work_keys_str_mv AT yamwoodkuen carbonationofconcretebridgestructuresinthreesouthafricanlocalities