Deterioration mechanisms of sulfate attack on concrete under alternate action

By micro- and macro-observations, the deterioration mechanisms of concrete under alternate action between repeated sub-high temperature/cooling by water and sodium sulfate solution attack (TW-SA) were studied; meanwhile, the single sodium sulfate solution attack (SA) was also done as comparison. Micro-observations included the analysis of attack products by thermal analysis method and the determination of sulfate-ion content from surface to interior by chemical titrating method (modified barium sulfate gravimetric method). Macro-observations mainly included the mechanical behaviors such as compressive strength, splitting strength. The experimental results indicate, in both cases, the main attack product is ettringite, only in the first layer of case SA some gypsum is checked; in case SA, the sulfate ions mainly concentrate in the surface layer, so the attack is relatively mild; but in case TW-SA, the repeated sub-high temperature/cooling by water promotes the sulfate ions diffusing inwards, which leads to obvious strength degradation.