Abstract

"Contamination of reinforced concrete structures by aggressive chemical agents has been and remains a serious, very relevant problem with regard to the durability and functionality of said structures. This gives rise to great concern due to little information on its real effect and the form in which it can be dealt with in order to provide security to the structures affected by the great enemies of the reinforced concrete, i. e. the chloride ions. Foreign standards were consulted to obtain a methodology for concrete samples to be obtained and for the later analysis of the chloride ion content, since Chilean standards do not mention this. Standard ASTM C 42/C 42M - 04 ""Standard Test for Method Obtaining and Testing Drilled Cores and Sawed Beams of Concrete"", ASTM C 1218/C 1218M - 99 ""Standard Test for Method Water-Soluble Chloride in Mortar and Concrete"" and ASTM C 1152/C 1152M - 04 ""Standard Test Method for Acid-Soluble Chloride in Mortar and Concrete"", were useful for obtaining a representative concrete sample to be used in the chloride ions quantitative analyses. Due to the importance of finding a methodology for the quantitative analysis of this type of ions, different standards were analyzed that are related to the ion chloride analysis, both national and foreign, and it was proven that the calculation formulas are not consistent, because they do not provide the same results (ASTM C-114 with NCh 1444 Of 80 and NCh1498 Of 82). The chloride content of reinforced concrete specimens exposed for five years to sea water in San Antonio, Puertecito, V Region of Valparaiso, under semi-immersion conditions was analysed, as well as, chloride content from twin specimens subject to cycles of semi-immersion and dried in laboratory in an accelerated system, so that to compare both situations, and a relation between both cases was found."