Fresh and hardened properties of seawater-mixed concrete

Using seawater for mixing concrete is potentially advantageous from a sustainability

perspective. However, the presence of high concentrations of chloride in the
seawater can lead to corrosion of steel reinforcement. This issue can be addressed
by using non-corrosive reinforcement; e.g., fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) bars.
Moreover, the global threat of freshwater scarcity suggests that the use of seawater
in concrete mixtures becomes plausible in the future. This paper reports on the
results of an extensive experimental study to compare the fresh and hardened
properties of freshwater- and seawater-mixed concretes. The experimental
program included the following tests: (a) characterization of fresh concrete (slump
flow, density, yield, air content, and setting time); (b) mechanical characterization
of hardened concrete (compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and
shrinkage); and (c) permeability performance of hardened concrete (rapid chloride
permeability, chloride migration, and water absorption). The use of seawater had a
notable effect on the fresh concrete properties. Mechanical performance of
seawater concrete was slightly lower than that of the freshwater-mixed concrete.
The permeability performance of hardened concrete in the two mixtures was
similar. Scanning electron microscopy and isothermal calorimetry were used as
supplementary tools to better explain the experimental observations. Finally,
remedial measures were proposed based on lab trials to improve the properties of
seawater concrete.
A notable reduction in the workability, workability retention, and initial setting time
measurements was observed when using seawater in concrete. The initial slump
flow of Mix B was approximately 20% lower than that of Mix A. The initial setting
time measured for Mix B was 30% lower than that of Mix A. Results from isothermal
calorimetry revealed the heat flow (i.e., rate of hydration) of the seawater paste to
be higher than that of the freshwater-mixed counterpart at early ages (up to Day 7).
However, at later ages, the heat flow was almost the same for both cement pastes.
Using chemical admixtures in seawater concrete was found to be effective to
achieve concrete properties in Mix B comparable to those of Mix A. Based on lab
trials, the authors proposed a specific procedure for this purpose which includes
adding 0.25 L/m3 of a commercial retarder (in this study CHRYSO Plast CQ240) and
increasing the superplasticizer amount by 15%.