Degradation mechanisms of concrete cold joint surfaces under sulfate cycles and varying pouring intervals

In concrete structures, particularly in arid and saline environments, the cold joint surface often serves as a primary entry point for erosion damage, thus dictating the lower limit of structural durability. This study investigates the erosion and damage mechanisms of cold joint concrete under such conditions, focusing on specimens with varying pouring intervals (0.25 d, 0.5 d, 1 d, 7 d, and 28 d). These specimens underwent 0, 30, 90, and 150 sulfate dry‒wet cycles, with their degradation assessed through compression‒shear tests. The findings reveal a logarithmic relationship between the cold joint surface adhesion and the pouring interval, and similarly, there is a logarithmic relationship between the internal friction angle and the pouring interval. Shorter intervals correspond to a higher rate of decrease in both adhesion and internal friction angle, while longer intervals result in lower, eventually stabilizing, values of these properties. Scanning Electron Microscopy analysis indicates that inherent defects in the cold joint surface expedite sulfate penetration into the concrete. As the number of sulfate cycles increases, ettringite formation in the cracks leads to their expansion and interconnection, diminishing the shear resistance of the cold joint surface. The study shows that the pouring interval significantly influences corrosion resistance, with its effects becoming more pronounced after a threshold of sulfate cycles (approximately 90). Shear strength is found to be more susceptible to sulfate erosion compared to compressive strength, with a faster degradation rate. After 80 to 110 erosion cycles, the adhesion corrosion resistance drops to 75%, while the compressive strength remains above this threshold. •We explored the shear strength degradation law for cold joint surfaces.•The erosive degradation of cold joint surfaces is explained at the micro level.•The developmental law of corrosion resistance is explored.