Effect of Aqueous Solutions on Tensile Strength Characteristics of Commonly Used Steel Reinforcements in Nigeria

Article history Received: 24 February 2019 Accepted: 30 March 2019 Published Online: 19 April 2019 The assessment of the performance of various local and imported steel reinforcements in aqueous media will contribute to the level of their engineering uses by assessing the degree of their deterioration thereby safeguarding the possible failures of structural elements whereby they are used. This study investigated the properties and durability of both local and imported steel reinforcing bars in Nigeria. Weekly durability assessments in terms of yield, tensile strength and modulus of elasticity for both local and foreign steel specimens were evaluated to compare the level of deterioration when fully immersed in distilled water, and in aqueous solutions (5% solution of H2SO4, HCl, NaOH, and Na2SO4 in distilled water over a period of six weeks. The severity of aqueous solutions on the tensile strength was in the order HCl> H2SO4 >NaOH> H2O > Na2SO4, and HCl> H2SO4>NaOH> Na2SO4> H2O for imported and local respectively. In conclusion, though the imported bars marginally satisfied the ASTM and BS standards in strength except in durability, but local steel bars did not meet the two requirements.