Chloride Penetration in Reinforced Concrete Structures: Case Study of Arvoredos Island

Reinforced concrete structures present in the marine environment are subject to the chloride penetration in the different marine aggressive zones. These chlorides penetrate through the concrete cover layer and, when reach the reinforcement, create favorable conditions for the beginning of the corrosion process, leading to several problems as the progressive reduction of the mechanical strength of the reinforcement. At this point, considering the existence of port infrastructures in operation, playing a key role in trade relations between nations, this chapter presents a case study regarding chloride attacks on reinforced concrete structures present in different marine aggressive zones under natural degradation for more than 40 years. The objective of this chapter is to inform managers responsible for the maintenance and rehabilitation of these structures about the aggressiveness of chloride attacks in the context of reinforcement corrosion through a case study presentation, thus demonstrating that the lack of maintenance strategies and rehabilitation plans can lead to loss of functionality and safety of the structure, where total or partial collapses are likely to occur.