Research on the performance evolution of concrete under the coupling effects of sulfate attack and carbonation

In this study, three coupled modes of coupling effect of sulfate attack and carbonation of concrete were carried out to investigate the change of mass, mechanical properties and apparent morphology. The phase composition, microstructure and morphological characteristics of erosion products were also studied by using environment scanning electron microscope (ESEM-EDS), Fourier infrared spectrometer (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results indicated that the coupled mode played an obvious effect on the performance and microstructures of specimen due to effects of coupled mode on the deterioration mechanism and erosion products. The surface feature of specimen became worse with carbonation time, and plenty of surface efflorescence and desquamation of products were observed under the coupled mode of carbonation followed by sulfate attack. The relative compressive strength and dynamic elastic modulus of concrete specimen first increased and then decreased with carbonation time, and there existed relationship of a cubic function of single variable between them. The relative mass of concrete specimen increased with the increase of the erosion age of sulfate attack. The difference of the carbonation time per period test played a significant effect on the relative compressive strength and dynamic elastic modulus of concrete specimen, which was due to the dominant effect of carbonation.