Comparative study of different test methods for reinforced concrete durability assessment in marine environment

There are many different test methods to assess reinforced concrete durability. As in marine environment reinforcement corrosion due to chloride attack is the most important degradation process, chloride penetration rate has been compared with different durability tests results (concrete strength, porosity, water absorption, water penetration depth under pressure, capillarity, water and oxygen permeability) carried out on concrete cores obtained from the caissons of seven Spanish wharves. Data have been studied separately, depending on concrete location (chloride penetration rate is faster in submerged concretes than in tidal zone concretes) and cement type (mineral admixtures reduce permeation rate due to pore size refinement). Results show that it is advisable to control concrete water tightness through water penetration under pressure test; additionally, in order to make sure a slow corrosion rate, it should be advisable to control oxygen permeability in tidal zone concretes.