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Description: This 18-page report addresses the long-term exposure and durability of various types of concrete exposed to seawater on the California coast. This report is also found on DVD021.
Concrete beams, some steel-reinforced, were continuously immersed in seawater with variable degrees of drying. Beams were observed for 37-39 years. All beams, whether totally immersed or located just above high tide, revealed excellent performance no matter what the cement composition was. Corrosion of reinforcing steel in concrete was a cause of cracking in seawater exposures. This corrosion can be greatly reduced/eliminated by adhering to recommended concrete mixture design and practice calling for minimizing the water-cementitious materials ratio and ensuring the maximum cover of concrete over the steel.
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