CHAPTER FIVE

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 Conclusions
In view of the forgoing, many calculations can be drawn on the basis of
the experimental results and as follows:
1. Water reduction increased with the increase of HRWRA percent addition.
The maximum water reduction attained at the optimum dosage of 0.500%
HRWRA by weight of cement is 17.78%. Hence the compressive strength of
concrete increased with increase in dosage of HRWRA percentage and time
of immersion in corrosive environments. For the optimum dosage of HRWRA
(0.500%), the compressive strength increased by 56% and 58% relative to
reference concrete after 90 days of immersion in chloride and chloride-sulfate
solutions, respectively.
2. A noticeable reduction in water absorption with increasing HRWRA
dosage was recorded. The optimum reduction in absorption of about 47.02%
and 47.13% after 28 days of immersion in chloride and chloride-sulfate
solutions respectively, was found with 0.500% HRWRA compared to
reference concrete.
3. HRWRA concretes exposed to chloride and chloride-sulfate solutions
exhibited significant improvement in D.C. electrical resistance with extended
time of immersion in corrosive solutions. The percentage increment in
electrical resistance of 0.500% HRWRA concretes compared to their
reference concrete is 28.6% and 37.2% after 28 and 90 days respectively in
chloride solution. For the same HRWRA percentage in chloride-sulfate
solution, it was noted that the increment is 40.5% and 30% after 28 and 90
days respectively. All concrete specimens showed smaller electrical resistance

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Conclusions & Recommendations

chloridesulfate solution than that in chloride solution alone. This was due to
the combined effect of two corrosive solutions.
4. The time to initiation of reinforcement corrosion and time to cracking of
concrete increased with increasing addition of HRWRA percentage by weight
of cement. The effective dosage was 0.500% by weight of cement which
delayed the time to initiation of reinforcement corrosion by about 125%
and134.7% for concretes immersed in chloride and chloridesulfate solutions,
respectively.
5. At the same dosage, the time to cracking of concrete due to accelerated
corrosion was also delayed by about 119% and 94% for concretes immersed
in chloride and chloridesulfate solutions, respectively compared to their
reference concrete.
6. All concrete specimens exposed to chloride plus sulfate showed a relatively
shorter time to initiation of reinforcement corrosion and cracking of concrete
due to accelerated reinforcement corrosion than those exposed to chloride
solution alone.
7. The mass loss of steel bars was decreased with the increase in HRWRA
percentage. But, the reduction in mass loss of reinforced steel was found less
in chloride plus sulfate solution than that in chloride solution alone. The
0.500% HRRWA percentage led to a reduction in reinforced steel mass loss
of about 90.2% and 85.2% compared to their reference concrete in chloride
and chloridesulfate solutions, respectively.

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Conclusions & Recommendations

5.2 Recommendations
The Recommendations and suggestions for the advancement of the
present work can be summarized as follows:
1. The structural properties of HRWRA-containing concrete such as modulus
of elasticity, creep, shrinkage and spalling, need to be studied.
2. The combined effects of internal and external attack by chlorides and
sulfates on the corrosion of steel reinforcement in concrete containing
HRWRA should be investigated.
3. Study an efficient synergistic corrosion inhibitor by combined presence of
HRWRA and sodium nitrate as passivator for steel on durability of
reinforcement concrete.
4. The durability characteristics of the concrete containing HRWRA need to
be assessed under specified conditions such as:
a) Aggressive attacking mediums of salts, acids, and alkalis
b) Cyclic heating and cooling.

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