Behaviour of massive reinforced concrete sections in seawater
type: CreativeWork
description: This study combined research available through literature with extensive experimental studies and substantial physical modelling to estimate the remaining ultimate life of large offshore reinforced concrete structures. Although much research has focussed on concrete degradation due to chloride ingress, corrosion of permanently submerged concrete is regarded as negligible due to the long-assumed apparent worst case of tidal or splash zone exposure. Around 350 specimens were tested with a further 200 exposed for further testing by future research groups. Specimens ranged in size from standard cubes to various beam lengths up to 1.5 metres, allowing for material and structural properties to be assessed. My original contribution to knowledge in the sector enhances the fundamental understandingof corrosion in subsea concrete, challenging the generally held belief of negligible corrosion. Results and modelling provides an improved ability to ultimately estimate the longevity of fully submerged offshore reinforced concrete. Throughout this thesis, the results from experimental works, carried out as a direct result of the lack of data or information in literature, are reported, assessed and then utilised to provide updated ultimate life estimations. With the current offshore concrete structures currently coming to the end of their service life, and the likelihood of further offshore development using concrete for the renewables sector, understanding the long-term degradation is vital in determining the most effective decommissioning and derogation options. The research carried out directly provides detailed information of the likely time-to-failure, allowing for an informed decision to be made on operational and decommissioning plans. Experimental work was carried out over four main phases; corrosion initiation due to bulk diffusion of chlorides (Phase I), corrosion propagation in low oxygen environments (Phase II), corrosion in statically and dynamically cracked sections (…
abstract: This study combined research available through literature with extensive experimental studies and substantial physical modelling to estimate the remaining ultimate life of large offshore reinforced concrete structures. Although much research has focussed on concrete degradation due to chloride ingress, corrosion of permanently submerged concrete is regarded as negligible due to the long-assumed apparent worst case of tidal or splash zone exposure. Around 350 specimens were tested with a further 200 exposed for further testing by future research groups. Specimens ranged in size from standard cubes to various beam lengths up to 1.5 metres, allowing for material and structural properties to be assessed. My original contribution to knowledge in the sector enhances the fundamental understandingof corrosion in subsea concrete, challenging the generally held belief of negligible corrosion. Results and modelling provides an improved ability to ultimately estimate the longevity of fully submerged offshore reinforced concrete. Throughout this thesis, the results from experimental works, carried out as a direct result of the lack of data or information in literature, are reported, assessed and then utilised to provide updated ultimate life estimations. With the current offshore concrete structures currently coming to the end of their service life, and the likelihood of further offshore development using concrete for the renewables sector, understanding the long-term degradation is vital in determining the most effective decommissioning and derogation options. The research carried out directly provides detailed information of the likely time-to-failure, allowing for an informed decision to be made on operational and decommissioning plans. Experimental work was carried out over four main phases; corrosion initiation due to bulk diffusion of chlorides (Phase I), corrosion propagation in low oxygen environments (Phase II), corrosion in statically and dynamically cracked sections (…
author: Thistlethwaite, Christopher
language: eng
keywords: Concrete durability, Corrosion, Chlorides
date published: 2014
date modified: 2026-07-24T02:07:52Z
provider: University of Dundee
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Dundee