Versalzung und Korrosion von Spritzbeton (Sicherheitsstollen des Gotthard-Strassentunnels)

Deterioration of Shotcrete in the Safety Gallery of the Gotthard Motorway Tunnel by Salt-Containing Water

Abstract

The corrosion behavior of shotcrete in the safety gallery of the motorway tunnel Gotthard was investigated. The tunnel was built in 1972/73, sections with waterleading rocks show various signs of concrete degradation. Samples of corroded concrete were investigated in the laboratory for their chemical and mineralogical compositions. X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and methods to determine acid-soluble silicon compounds and insoluble contents were used to characterize the samples.Comparisons of original concrete with corroded samples show the existence of discrete interaction mechanisms. These mechanisms lead either to harmless efflorescence, to detachments of concrete from the rock or to more or less complete degradation of the cement paste. Delamination or deterioration of concrete are related to the amount and kind of transformation products formed due to action of specific ionic species of the interacting water. Special attention is drawn to the formation of thaumasite, which may be formed under special conditions, even when sulfate-resistant cements have been used.Physical and chemical properties of the cement paste as well as the composition of interacting water are important for the service life of a concrete structure. The potential of concrete degradation due to interaction with aggressive water may be lowered by preventing its contact or by draining the water not to force it to penetrate the concrete structure.