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Sulfate Attack on Concrete

Sulfate Attack on Concrete

Sulfate attack on concrete is a deterioration process characterized by a whitish discoloration beginning at the edges and corners, accompanied by cracking and spalling. This phenomenon occurs when sulfates react with the components of hardened concrete, forming compounds like calcium sulfate and calcium sulfoaluminate which occupy more space than the substances they replace, causing the concrete to expand and disrupt.
Sulfates from sources like soil, groundwater, or industrial effluents...

Acid Attack on Concrete

Acid Attack on Concrete

When acids come into contact with concrete, they initiate a chemical reaction that dissolves the hydrated cement paste. This process leads to softening and structural weakening of the concrete. This issue is commonly observed in environments such as chimneys, sewers, and industrial settings. The severity of the damage increases as the pH of the water interacting with the concrete drops below 6.5. In particular, a pH under 4.5 can cause significant concrete damage.
The rate at which hydrogen...

Types of Non-structural Cracks in Concrete

Types of Non-structural Cracks in Concrete

Non-structural cracks are primarily of three types: plastic, early-age thermal, and drying shrinkage cracks. Plastic cracks are further classified into plastic shrinkage cracks and plastic settlement cracks.
Plastic shrinkage cracks typically form within hours after the concrete is poured. The concrete's surface dries faster than the bottom, creating tensile stress that the still-plastic concrete cannot withstand, leading to diagonal or randomly patterned cracks on the concrete surface.

Fixed Action Patterns

Fixed Action Patterns

A fixed action pattern (FAP) is a specific, hard-wired sequence of behaviors that occurs in response to an external stimulus, called a sign stimulus. The behavior is “fixed” because it is essentially unchangeable—proceeding similarly across individuals of a species every time it occurs.

Concrete

Concrete

Concrete is a vital construction material extensively used worldwide, primarily valued for its strength, durability, and versatility, which it provides for various structural designs. Concrete generally comprises ingredients like Portland cement, coarse gravel, fine sand, and water. Concrete can be mixed by simple hand methods or industrially at computer-controlled plants. The mixture consists of aggregates and a paste made from water and Portland cement. This paste coats the aggregates and,...

Workability of Concrete

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The workability of concrete is a crucial property that affects its handling, placing, and finishing during construction. It describes the ease with which concrete can be mixed, placed, compacted, and finished. Workability is primarily concerned with the concrete's movement and its ability to resist internal friction and external resistance from molds and reinforcements during the application process.
Concrete's workability is determined by its resistance to internal forces that arise...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 21, 2026

Generating a Fractal Microstructure of Laminin-111 to Signal to Cells

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Published on: September 28, 2020

Fractal Cracking Patterns in Concretes Exposed to Sulfate Attack.

Jinwei Yao^1,2, Jiankang Chen³, Chunsheng Lu⁴

¹Key Laboratory of Impact and Safety Engineering, School of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China.

Materials (Basel, Switzerland)

|July 26, 2019

Summary

This study investigated concrete sulfate attack, revealing that micro-crack growth patterns correlate with delayed ettringite formation (DEF). Fractal dimensions quantify crack evolution, offering a model for concrete degradation under sulfate exposure.

Keywords:

concrete digital image processing fractal dimension micro-crack propagation sulfate attack

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Area of Science:

Materials Science
Civil Engineering
Geochemistry

Background:

Sulfate attack is a major cause of concrete degradation.
Delayed ettringite formation (DEF) is a key mechanism in sulfate-induced concrete damage.
Understanding micro-crack evolution is crucial for predicting concrete durability.

Purpose of the Study:

To analyze micro-crack growth patterns in concrete under sulfate attack.
To investigate the relationship between expansive stress, DEF, and surface cracking.
To develop a model for micro-crack evolution based on fractal dimensions.

Main Methods:

Sulfate attack tests on concrete with varying water-to-cement ratios.
X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy for DEF analysis.
Digital image processing to determine fractal dimensions of surface cracks.

Main Results:

Micro-crack growth patterns were recorded and analyzed.
Fractal dimensions of surface cracking patterns increased monotonically during corrosion.
A direct proportionality was found between fractal dimension changes and DEF accumulation.

Conclusions:

Fractal dimension serves as a quantitative indicator of micro-crack evolution in sulfate-attacked concrete.
The study proposes a theoretical model to describe micro-crack development linked to DEF.
Findings contribute to better prediction and mitigation of concrete deterioration due to sulfate attack.