<![CDATA[This study examines the effects of seawater salinity on the mechanical and permeability properties of concrete made with Portland Composite Cement (PCC), a sustainable alternative to Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) with up to 30% lower CO₂ emissions. Concrete specimens were cured in water ponds with salinity levels of <0.1%, 0.2–0.4%, 0.6–0.7%, and 3–3.5% to simulate coastal exposure. Compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, permeability, and Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity (UPV) were tested at 7, 28, 42, 56, and 90 days. Compressive strength generally increased with age, but the target of 41.4 MPa was not consistently reached by 42 days. High salinity exposure reduced tensile strength and produced more brittle fracture patterns, indicating increased cracking potential. Interestingly, permeability decreased in high-salinity samples, possibly due to salt crystallization within pores, though this was not supported by UPV results. The weak correlation between UPV and both strength and permeability suggest microstructural effects not captured by non-destructive testing alone. PCC concrete showed acceptable performance in low-salinity conditions (<1%), making it suitable for mildly aggressive marine environments. These findings support the broader use of PCC in sustainable construction and highlight the need for further microstructural investigation under saline exposure.]]>
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