Need to specify testing standards for chloride, carbonation, etc.

[KM]

I am writing a Terms of Reference for a Consultant to undertake testing of some existing concrete on a dam deck with the intent to identify the amount of deck area requiring rehabilitation and get a cost estimate for planning purposes.

I am asking that the Consultant take some cores and do compression testing to C39/C39M-12. I am also asking for a half-cell corrosion potential survey of the deck to ASTM C876-09. This latter is a test with which I am really not familiar, but the last Consultant recommended it be done and it does indeed seem like it would be the most useful test to get the information we need. However, in reading up on the half-cell test, I see that additional tests for chlorides and carbonation (pH) are required to provide interpretive context for the half-cell testing. However, I don't know exactly what tests to specify (i.e. ASTM or CSA or other). Could anyone assist?

 

[Ron]

Additional cores should be taken for chlorides testing (water soluble chlorides) and depth of carbonation. Carbonation testing should be done on a freshly BROKEN piece of concrete. The best way to do this is to do a splitting tensile test on one of the cores and immediately check for the depth of carbonation from the surface down using phenolphthaline.

 

[KM]

Sounds good---thanks.