Lessons Learned from the Treat Island Marine Exposure Site

Abstract:

The marine exposure site on Treat Island near Eastport, Maine, was built more than 75 years ago and during this period a wide range of concrete types have been placed on the site. Treat Island represents a very severe exposure condition with the highest tides in the world, salinity typical of the Atlantic Ocean and approximately 100 freeze-thaw cycles per annum. The various research programs that have used this facility have investigated the effects of numerous parameters including fibre-reinforcement, polymer-impregnation, supplementary cementing materials, sulfur concrete, high-alumina cement, ettringite-based rapid-set binders, w/cm and strength, ultra-high-performance concrete, corrosion-resistant reinforcement, impact of load and cracking, “mechanical air-entrainment”, and use of corrosion-inhibiting admixtures. Performance has been evaluated in a number of ways including visual assessment, pulse velocity, dynamic modulus, chloride profiling, and electro-chemical corrosion monitoring. The paper presents an overview of “lessons learned” with detailed information on factors affecting the rate of chloride ingress.

• Periodical: Key Engineering Materials (Volume 711)
• Pages: 390-396
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.711.390
• Online since: September 2016
• Authors: Michael Thomas*
• Keywords: Chlorides, Concrete, Diffusion, Durability, Marine, Supplementary Cementing Materials

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