Chloride penetration into concrete in an offshore platform-analysis of exposure conditions

• We discuss the chloride penetration in three different exposure zones.
• Chlorides profiles in the year 2000 and 2005 were analyzed.
• Increase in the chlorides ingress with exposure time was verified.
• Microclimate is important for the behavior of obtained chloride profiles.
• Wind and wetting and drying cycles affects the chloride diffusion coefficient.

The chloride penetration in three different exposure zones (Atmospheric, Splash and Tidal) of an offshore concrete platform in the year 2000 and 2005 was analyzed. Chlorides profiles for different orientations of the analyzed structure were also obtained. The apparent diffusion coefficients and surface chloride contents of concrete specimens were determined by curve fitting of chloride profiles in chloride penetration models based in diffusion. Increase in the chlorides ingress with exposure time was verified and microclimatic factors such as exposure to wind and wetting and drying cycles were the main responsible for the behavior of obtained chloride profiles.