Effect of salinity on the structural strengths of conventional concrete

This research focuses on the effect salinity on the structural strengths of conventional concrete. The unreinforced beam, cylinder and cube specimens produced were cured up to 120 days in different curing medium and tested at varying predetermined curing age. The physio-chemical properties of Unilag tap and lagoon water, physical properties, workability, compressive, split tensile and flexural strengths were determined. Two curing media (salt water I & salt water II) having five times (5\(\times\)) and ten times (10\(\times\)) the chloride content of lagoon water were simulated. The results revealed that the structural strengths of concrete samples cured in lagoon water recorded lower strengths when compared to samples cured in salt water I but higher in strength development than samples cured in salt water II. The percentage decrease in structural strengths increased from lagoon water to salt water II which recorded the highest value of 29.35%, 17.67% and 33.65% at 28-day for compressive, tensile and flexural strengths respectively. The mathematical models developed using Modified Regression Approach to predict the structural strengths were in good agreement with the experimental data. This research reveals that the salt water solution simulation in the laboratory does not fully replicate the aggressiveness of actual marine water (environment).