1.

Definition of sulfate attack

The sulfate ions form secondary ettringite. The secondary ettringite is expansive product and causes he cement
paste to crack. Consequently, sulfate attack leads to thickness loss of the surface of the concrete.

2. Sulfate content

2.1. Sulfate content of groundwater (measured)

The sulfate content of ground water is a distribution with:

 mean value of 69 ppm,

 95th percentile 243 ppm
 maximum of 255 ppm.

2.2. Sulfate content of groundwater with pyrite contribution

The sulfate content of groundwater with contribution of pyrite oxidation is a distribution with:

 Mean value of 1543 ppm

 95th percentiles 1614 ppm
 Maximum value of 1633 ppm

2.3. Sulfate content of groundwater (new set of data measured by EEM)

The sulfate content of groundwater is a distribution with:

 95th percentiles: 869 ppm

 99th percentiles: 937 ppm

3. Coating

Application is coating suggested to protect functionality of gaskets as shown in figure below:

7 mm

7 mm Maximum allowable
thickness loss to keep
anchorage

As suggested by producer of Gasket, the maximum of 7 mm thickness loss is tolerable to maintain the
anchorage of the gasket.
Normally, the coating has a life span of 25-30 years.

4. Thickness loss of sulfate attack

We can consider sulfate content start to penetrate after the life span of coating is finished. So, sulfate attack
starts after 25 years. Duration of sulfate attack is 75 years.

We need to identify the thickness loss for 100-25=75 years.

For sulfate content with mean value of 69 ppm:

8.14 mm

For Sulfate content with mean value of 1543 ppm:

 17.33 mm

Calculations regarding the groundwater data measured by EEM in ongoing.

 4. Conclusions
o Considering sulfate content with mean value of 69 ppm, the gasket can maintain its
functionality up to 100 years with application of coating.
o Considering sulfate content measured by EEM, the simulation is ongoing.

As a rough estimation, in the figure below, the thickness loss is estimated for the sulfate concentration of 869
ppm.
 95th percentiles
25

20 f(x) = 5.01931525528245 ln(x) − 4.07756447471432

15 f(x) = 4.03109748702635 ln(x) − 4.1242240442838 243

Logarithmic (243)
Thickness loss (mm)

869
Logarithmic (869)
1614
10
f(x) = 2.85502362544361 ln(x) − 4.17975340423467 Logarithmic (1614)

5 maximum allowable
thickness loss

0
0 25 50 75 100 125 150 175
X1
X2 Time (year)

For 243 ppm sulfate concentration:

Expected service life of the coating = 100-75  Expected service life of the coating = 25 years

For 869 ppm sulfate concentration:

Expected service life of the coating = 100-X2  Expected service life of the coating = 80 years

For 1614 ppm sulfate concentration:

Expected service life of the coating = 100-X1  Expected service life of the coating = 90 years