concrete filled corten tube

[dakota99]

I am looking at using a 12" diameter corten A606 steel (weathering steel) tube that will be filled with concrete for some supports on a pier located in a small city pond. The Corten steel shell is only for architectural reasons, I do not need any bond between the two materials. Being that the steel will naturally rust, should I be concerned with the concrete spalling at the interface between the two materials? Has anybody ever grouted a Corten steel column?

 

[JStephen]

It's my understanding that the Corten works for the weathering in a DRY environment- don't know that you gain anything when you submerge it.

 

[dik]

Corten works in all environments... just faster in some. Have to be careful, though, if the environment is abrasive, then Corten can 'wear' away faster because the oxide/carbonate coating is 'worn' away. Corten can also stain surrounding concrete.

The coating works because the oxidation surface is relatively tightly bound to the base metal.

Dik

 

[dakota99]

I did a little more reading about the corten steel and it does sound like it will deteriorate much quicker when continually exposed to water.

 

[kelowna]

My undertanding of corten steel is that to produce the protective rust film it requires dry/wet cycles, and that in continuously wet or damp environments the film does not form properly, producing rapid deterioration.
At least that is the literature I have read.

In terms of grouting the inside of the column, the concrete in contact with the steel will protect it, in the same way as it protects an embedded reinforcing bar. So that is not an issue.