RAPID IN SITU DETERMINATION OF CHOLORIDE ION IN PORTLAND CEMENT CONCRETE BRIDGE DECKS

A chloride ion specific electrode is used for rapid in situ analysis of the chloride content of Portland Cement Concrete bridge decks. Insertion of the chloride specific electrode into 2.5cc of a borate-nitrate solution in a 3/4 inch diameter hole drilled in the bridge surface provided chloride analysis to plus or minus 0.5 pounds of chloride per cubil yeard in 95% of the samples in 90 seconds. Average observed error in 238 field determinations in bridges having salt contents ranging from 0.0 to 5.0 #C1- /yd sub 3 is plus or minus 0.19 #C1-/yd sub 3. The system is applicable to bare concrete surfaces or concrete surfaces under asphalt overlays. A sample collection method is presented that allows rapid sampling with little or no contamination. The equipment cost is small and training of personnel is not difficult. Time benefit ratio of previous to present method is about 7 to 1. /Author/

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Prepared in cooperation with DOT, Federal Highway Administration.
• Corporate Authors:

  Kansas Department of Transportation

  Division of Planning and Development, State Office Building
  Topeka, KS  United States  66612
• Authors:
  • Garrett, L M
  • Virmani, Y P
  • Ramamurti, K
  • Gilliland, W J
• Publication Date: 1976-11

Media Info

• Pagination: 39 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Asphalt; Bridge decks; Chlorides; Field tests; Ionization; Portland cement concrete; Salts
• Old TRIS Terms: Insitu methods
• Subject Areas: Highways; Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00149350
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-KS-RD-75-2
• Contract Numbers: HPR
• Files: TRIS, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Apr 13 1977 12:00AM