Experimental Investigation on Deterioration Mechanisms of Concrete under Tensile Stress-Chloride Ion-Carbon Dioxide Multiple Corrosion Environment

The adverse effects of a hostile marine environment on concrete structures inevitably result in great economic loss and may contribute to catastrophic failure. There is limited information on the durability of concrete in a tensile stress-chloride ion-carbon dioxide (TCC) multiple-corrosion environment. The objective of this study is to explore the impact of a TCC multiple-corrosion environment on concrete considering three coupled factors of compressive strength, Cl− penetration, and carbonation. Dry–wet cycle tests were conducted to determine the strength degradation and Cl− penetration concentration of concrete in a hostile multiple-corrosion marine environment. The results show that the effects of water-soluble chloride ions (Cl−), carbon dioxide (CO2), and tensile stress on concrete are not a simple superposition, but involve obvious interaction. The compressive strength of a concrete specimen first increases and then decreases in chlorine salt-carbon tests. The Cl− concentration and tensile stress affect the carbonation depth of concrete, which increases with an increase in Cl− concentration, and with the application of tensile stress. The Cl− concentration has an obvious effect on the carbonation depth. In addition to experimental observations, a stepwise regression equation was established based on the multiple linear regression theory. A correlation analysis considering different factors was conducted to reflect the corrosion results more directly.