INVESTIGATION OF CONCRETE IN SERVICE

AN ANALYSIS OF PROCEDURES, TECHNIQUES, AND EXAMPLES OF INVESTIGATION OF CONCRETE IN SERVICE IS NEEDED BECAUSE OF THE INCREASING FREQUENCY WITH WHICH SUCH STUDIES ARE UNDERTAKEN AND BECAUSE NEW METHODS FOR ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION OF CONCRETE IN SERVICE HAS BEEN DEVELOPED RECENTLY. INVESTIGATION OF ANY SUBSTANTIAL FAILURE OF CONCRETE SHOULD BE UNDERTAKEN IN ACCORDANCE WITH AN AGREED-UPON SCOPE, OBJECTIVE, PLAN OF ATTACK, AND PROSPECTIVE TIME SCHEDULE. THE TWO MOST IMPORTANT OBJECTIVES OF THE EXAMINATION OF CONCRETE IN SERVICE ARE: (1) TO ESTABLISH THE PROBABLE NATURE AND EXTENT OF ACTUAL OR IMMINENT FAILURE, AND (2) TO CHOOSE APPROPRIATE REMEDIAL OR PROTECTIVE MEASURES. DIAGNOSIS OF REAL OR APPARENT FAILURE OR UNSATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE OF CONCRETE MAY BE UNDERTAKEN FOR SEVERAL REASONS: (1) CONCRETE INVOLVED IN UNSATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE MIGHT BE INVESTIGATED TO ESTABLISH THE ABILITY OF THE CONCRETE TO CONTINUE TO PERFORM UNDER ANTICIPATED CONDITIONS OF SERVICE, (2) STUDY TO IDENTIFY PROCESSES THAT HAVE CAUSED OR CONTRIBUTED TO UNSATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE, (3) DISCOVER ANY DEFECTS IN THE CONCRETE OR THE CONSTRUCTION THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE UNSATISFACTORY CONDITION, (4) TO ESTABLISH REMEDIAL OR PROTECTIVE MEASURES THAT SHOULD BE APPLIED TO PROVIDE FOR CONTINUING SERVICE, AND (5) THE FIXING OF FINANCIAL OR LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAILURE OR UNSATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE. IT IS HOPED THAT THIS CONFERENCE WILL PROVIDE GUIDANCE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF MORE EFFECTIVE INVESTIGATIONS OF PERFORMANCE OF CONCRETE IN SERVICE.

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  • Supplemental Notes:
    • Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
  • Corporate Authors:

    Highway Research Board (HRB)

    Washington, DC   
  • Authors:
    • Mielenz, Richard C
  • Publication Date: 1970

Media Info

  • Media Type: Digital/other
  • Pagination: pp 3-4
  • Monograph Title: Observations of the performance of concrete in service
  • Serial:

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00213688
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
  • Created Date: Jul 21 1970 12:00AM