A critical loading ratio is reached at 50% of concrete ultimate load. Beyond this point the
presence of micro cracks exerts a big influence on the chloride transport. For compression the
strain distribution in the sample developed micro-cracking system that is more or less
homogeneously distributed in the sample. Therefore it is expected the same chloride profile
regardless of the position. When combined splitting tensile load and chloride attack are acting
on concrete, the main micro-crack system is located on the loading plane. This contributes to
regular and alike shaped chloride profiles if they are taken from planes that are kept parallel to
the splitting one. Prismatic samples (100 x 100 x 400 mm) made of OPC binder were exposed
to a 3% by weight sodium chloride solution while maintaining a loading ratio equal to 60 %
of the maximum capacity. Cubic samples (side = 150 mm) made of OPC and 50% BFS had
similar chemical exposure while applying a permanent splitting tensile load corresponding to
65 % of their breaking capacity. After the exposure, ground layers were obtained from the
samples to determine the total chloride ingress into the concrete by means of potentiometric
titration and the effect of the load on the chloride ingress was assessed