Carbonated water erosion characteristics and mechanism of tunnel lining cement-based materials in karst environment

Abstract

The study aims to investigate the carbonated water erosion mechanism of lining concrete in tunnels traversing karst environment and enhance its resistance. In this study, dynamic carbonated water erosion was simulated to assess erosion depth, microstructure, phase migrations, and pore structure in various tunnel lining cement-based materials. Additionally, Ca²⁺ leaching was analyzed, and impact of Ca/Si molar ratio in hydration products on erosion resistance was discussed by thermodynamic calculations. The results indicate that carbonated water erosion caused rough and porous surface on specimens, with reduced portlandite and CaCO₃ content, increased porosity, and an enlargement of pore size. The thermodynamic calculations indicate that the erosion is spontaneous, driven by physical dissolution and chemical reactions dominated by Gibbs free energy. And the erosion reactions proceed more spontaneously and extensively when Ca/Si molar ratio in hydration products was higher. Therefore, cement-based materials with higher portlandite content exhibit weaker erosion resistance. Model-building concrete, with C-S-H gel and portlandite as primary hydration products, has greater erosion susceptibility than shotcrete with ettringite as main hydration product. Moreover, adding silicon-rich mineral admixtures can enhance the erosion resistance. This research offers theory and tech insights to boost cement-based material resistance against carbonated water erosion in karst tunnel engineering.

Keywords

tunnel lining cement-based materials / carbonated water erosion / phase analysis / pore structure / Ca/Si molar ratio

References

[1] ZhuH-h, YanJ-x, LiangW-h. Challenges and development prospects of ultra-long and ultra-deep mountain tunnels [J]. Engineering, 2019, 5(3): 384-392.

[2] XuS-s, MaE-l, LaiJ-x, et al.. Diseases failures characteristics and countermeasures of expressway tunnel of water-rich strata: A case study [J]. Engineering Failure Analysis, 2022, 134106056.

[3] LvY-x, JiangY-j, HuW, et al.. A review of the effects of tunnel excavation on the hydrology, ecology, and environment in karst areas: Current status, challenges, and perspectives [J]. Journal of Hydrology, 2020, 586124891.

[4] TianQ-y, ZhangJ-t, ZhangY-l. Similar simulation experiment of expressway tunnel in karst area [J]. Construction and Building Materials, 2018, 176: 1-13.

[5] LiS-c, QiY-h, LiZ-f, et al.. A novel treatment method and construction technology of the pipeline gushing water geohazards in karst region [J]. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, 2021, 113103939.

[6] SongL-h. Progress and trend of karst geomorphology study [J]. Progress in Geography, 2020, 3: 193-202(in Chinese)

[7] RenM-e, LiuZ-zIntroduction to karst science [M], 1983, Beijing. The Commercial Press. (in Chinese)

[8] ZhangZ-w, LiG-x, ZhangG, et al.. Influence of liquid accelerators on shotcrete in karst area tunnels [J]. Case Studies in Construction Materials, 2022, 16e01002.

[9] XiangJ-c, LiuL-p, HeY, et al.. Early mechanical properties and microstructural evolution of slag/metakaolin-based geopolymers exposed to karst water [J]. Cement and Concrete Composites, 2019, 99: 140-150.

[10] MachnerA, ZajacM, BenH M, et al.. Stability of the hydrate phase assemblage in Portland composite cements containing dolomite and metakaolin after leaching, carbonation, and chloride exposure [J]. Cement and Concrete Composites, 2018, 89: 89-106.

[11] TB 10005—2010. Code for durability design on concrete structure of railway [S]. (in Chinese)

[12] GB 50021—2001 (2009 edition). Code for Investigation of geotechnical engineering [S]. (in Chinese)

[13] YangF-k, LaiC-l, LiuL-p, et al.. A new method for improving the resistance of cement-based materials to carbonic acid water corrosion: Carbonation curing and further water curing [J]. Construction and Building Materials, 2024, 422135733.

[14] LiuJ-h, BianL-b, HeW, et al.. Investigation and destruction mechanism on corrosion of concrete shaft in coal mine [J]. Journal of China Coal Society, 2015, 40(3): 528-533(in Chinese)

[15] WangJExperiment research on concrete durability affected by aggressive carbon dioxide in groundwater environment [D], 2012, Zhengzhou. Zhengzhou University. (in Chinese)

[16] ZhanZ, XingF, ZengL, et al.. Concrete durability affected by aggressive carbon dioxide in groundwater [J]. Journal of the Chinese Silicate Society, 2013, 41(2): 224-229(in Chinese)

[17] DongY, YangH-q, WangL. Experimental study on property deterioration of cement-based materials under carbonic acid erosion [J]. Journal of Building Materials, 2014, 17(5): 868-874(in Chinese)

[18] YinS-h, YangY-f, ZhangT-s, et al.. Effect of carbonic acid water on the degradation of Portland cement paste: Corrosion process and kinetics [J]. Construction and Building Materials, 2015, 91: 39-46.

[19] YinS-h, ChenY, YangY-f, et al.. Effect of supplementary cementitious materials on the resistance of cement paste to carbonic acid water [J]. Structural Concrete, 2018, 19(5): 1399-1408.

[20] BaoH, XuG, WangQ, et al.. Study on the deterioration mechanism of cement-based materials in acid water containing aggressive carbon dioxide [J]. Construction and Building Materials, 2020, 243118243.

[21] ZhangX-g, ZhengY-z, GuoZ-m, et al.. Effect of CO₂ solution on Portland cement paste under flowing, migration, and static conditions [J]. Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, 2021, 95104179.

[22] MeiK-y, ChengX-w, ZhangH, et al.. The coupled reaction and crystal growth mechanism of tricalcium silicate (C₃S): An experimental study for carbon dioxide geosequestration wells [J]. Construction and Building Materials, 2018, 187: 1286-1294.

[23] WangXMulti-factor model of concrete carbonation depth and durability analysis groundwater [D], 2016, Nanning. Guangxi University. (in Chinese)

[24] KutchkoB G, StrazisarB R, DzombakD A, et al.. Degradation of well cement by CO₂ under geologic sequestration conditions [J]. Environmental Science and Technology, 2007, 41(13): 4787-4792.

[25] DuguidA, RadonjicM, SchererG W. Degradation of cement at the reservoir/cement interface from exposure to carbonated brine [J]. International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, 2011, 5(6): 1413-1428.

[26] KravanjaG, KnezZ. Carbonization of Class G well cement containing metakaolin under supercritical and saturated environments [J]. Construction and Building Materials, 2023, 367131050.

[27] LiuJ-h, ZouM, LiK, et al.. Research progress on performance degradation and corrosion failure of cement-based materials in carbonate environment [J]. Materials Reports, 2023, 37(19): 92-100(in Chinese)

[28] GuoG-fStudy on corrosion characters of cement-based materials in aggressive CO₂ environment [D], 2012, Guangzhou. South China University of Technology. (in Chinese)

[29] ZhengJStudy on deterioration mechanism and long-term stability of tunnel lining in carbonated water environment [D], 2018, Wuhan. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences. (in Chinese)

[30] WangJ-h, XieY-j, ZhongX-h, et al.. Development and application of high performance liquid alkali-free accelerator for railway tunnel [J]. Railway Engineering, 2021, 61(1): 130-134(in Chinese)

[31] IkumiT, SalvadorR P, AguadoA. Mix proportioning of sprayed concrete: A systematic literature review [J]. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, 2022, 124104456.

[32] WangY-f, ShiC-j, MaY-h, et al.. Accelerators for shotcrete-Chemical composition and their effects on hydration, microstructure and properties of cement-based materials [J]. Construction and Building Materials, 2021, 281122557.

[33] WangJ-h, XieY-j, ZhongX-h, et al.. Test and simulation of cement hydration degree for shotcrete with alkaline and alkali-free accelerators [J]. Cement and Concrete Composites, 2020, 112103684.

[34] SalvadorR P, CavalaroS H P, CincottoA, et al.. Parameters controlling early age hydration of cement pastes containing accelerators for sprayed concrete [J]. Cement and Concrete Research, 2016, 89: 230-248.

[35] LanY, DaiY-q, ZengQ, et al.. Microstructure refinement of calcium-sulfate- aluminate and portland cement (CSA-PC) hybrids with accelerated CO₂ curing (ACC) [J]. Journal of Materials Research and Technology, 2023, 28: 1149-1164.

[36] HuC-l, HouD-h, LiZ-j. Micro-mechanical properties of calcium sulfoaluminate cement and the correlation with microstructures [J]. Cement and Concrete Composites, 2017, 80: 10-16.

[37] ZhangS-q, LiuJ-h, LiuL-p, et al.. A review on corrosion of cement-based materials in CO₂-rich karst groundwater [J]. Cement and Concrete Composites, 2024, 146105376.

[38] PedersenO, ColmerT D, Sand JensenK. Underwater photosynthesis of submerged plants-recent advances and methods [J]. Frontiers in Plant Science, 2013, 400140.

[39] ShiC-j, YuanQTest and analysis method of cement-based materials [M], 2018, Beijing. China Building and Construction Press. (in Chinese)

[40] ScrivenerK, SnellingsR, LothenbachBA practical guide to microstructural analysis of cementitious materials [M], 2016, Boca Raton. CRC Press.

[41] ShahV, ScrivenerK, BhattacharjeeB, et al.. Changes in microstructure characteristics of cement paste on carbonation [J]. Cement and Concrete Research, 2018, 109: 184-197.

[42] CuiY, TanZ-s, ZhouZ-l, et al.. Preparation and application of low rebound liquid alkali-free accelerator for shotcrete [J]. Construction and Building Materials, 2023, 367130220.

[43] RezakhaniD, JafariA H, HajabassiM. Durability, mechanical properties and rebar corrosion of slag-based cement concrete modified with graphene oxide [J]. Structures, 2023, 49: 678-697.

[44] BatoolF, SangiA J, KhanM S, et al.. Material characterization of a historical wall by using destructive and non-destructive techniques [J]. Structures, 2022, 46: 1669-1678.

[45] de OliveiraA M, OliveiraA P, VieiraJ D, et al.. Study of the development of hydration of ternary cement pastes using X-ray computed microtomography, XRD-Rietveld method, TG/DTG, DSC, calorimetry and FTIR techniques [J]. Journal of Building Engineering, 2022, 64105616.

[46] AlonsoC, CastelloteM, LlorenteI, et al.. Ground water leaching resistance of high and ultra high performance concretes in relation to the testing convection regime [J]. Cement and Concrete Research, 2006, 36(9): 1583-1594.

[47] ChoudharyR, GuptaR, AlomayriT, et al.. Permeation, corrosion, and drying shrinkage assessment of self-compacting high strength concrete comprising waste marble slurry and fly ash, with silica fume [J]. Structures, 2021, 33: 971-985.

[48] MehtaP K, MonteiroP J MConcrete: Microstructure, properties, and materials [M], 2006, New York. McGraw-Hill.

[49] GaiteroJ J, CampilloI, GuerreroA. Reduction of the calcium leaching rate of cement paste by addition of silica nanoparticles [J]. Cement and Concrete Research, 2008, 38(8): 1112-1118. 9

[50] WuMStudy on design method and hydration mechanism of lime-based low carbon cementitious materials [M], 2021, Nangjing. Southeast University. (in Chinese)

[51] DaiY-q, LanY, WenR-j, et al.. Doubling the coating-substrate pull-off strength by growth of CaCO₃ nano-crystals [J]. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2023, 474145763.

[52] DuY, QiY-x, ZengQ, et al.. Enlightenment of ancient Tabia for sustainable construction material manufacture by accelerated CO₂ treatment [J]. Journal of CO2 Utilization, 2024, 88102937.

[53] ChenY-f, CuiY-j, BarrettA G, et al.. Investigation of calcite precipitation in the drainage system of railway tunnels [J]. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, 2019, 84: 45-55.

[54] TongY-p, TianC-m, YeF, et al.. Reducing calcium dissolution in tunnel shotcrete: The impact of admixtures on shotcrete performance [J]. Langmuir, 2024, 40(19): 9911-9925.

[55] PengY-z, MengX, SongF-j, et al.. Experimental study on the corrosion characteristics of concrete exposed to acid water containing aggressive carbon dioxide and sodium sulfate [J]. Construction and Building Materials, 2022, 321126397.

[56] LothenbachB, KulikD A, MatscheiT, et al.. Cemdata 18: A chemical thermodynamic database for hydrated Portland cements and alkali-activated materials [J]. Cement and Concrete Research, 2019, 115: 472-506.

[57] ZhuJ-m, LiM-t, LiuJ-h, et al.. Corrosion resistance of cement-based materials with sugarcane bagasse ash-metakaolin-Portland cement binder under carbonic acid water environment [J]. Journal of Building Engineering, 2024, 87109065.

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Central South University