Mechanical properties and service life analysis of high strength concrete using different silica fume contents in marine environment in Vietnam

This study evaluated the durability of concrete incorporating different silica fume (SF) content and also computed the service life of this concrete in marine environments. The specimens were prepared with three different SF content (i.e. 8%, 10%, and 12% by mass of cement replaced with SF). Three water/binder ratios (0.25, 0.30, and 0.35) were used for preparing concrete specimens. The mechanical properties were assessed via compression and splitting tensile tests. The rapid chloride penetration and chloride migration experiments were employed to evaluate the durability of concrete. The results showed that the mixture with 10% SF replacement showed the best performance. The inclusion of SF not only reduced the total porosity but also refined the volume fraction of harmless and less harmful pores (< 200 nm). Consequently, the chloride ion penetration resistance of concrete was improved, which in turn reduced the potential corrosion rate of reinforcement. From the results of service life prediction using Life-365 software, it is indicated that the utilization of SF for cement replacement effectively improved the corrosion resistance of steel bars in marine reinforced concrete. The service life against salt damage can be remarkably extended by substituting cement with an appropriate SF level.