ORDINARY AND LONG-TERM DURABILITY OF REINFORCED CONCRETE STRUCTURES

Durability of reinforced concrete structures (RCS) seems to be poor when compared with those of ancient un-reinforced structures. When ordinary durability (service life of 40-50 years) is needed, the poor behavior of RCS stems from human negligence in adopting the well-consolidated and available experiential knowledge. However, for long-term durability requirements (service life of 100 years and more) the inherent vulnerability of the steel-concrete system must be taken into account. The inherent vulnerability of RCS substantially depends on the following "weak points" of concrete: (i) Low tensile strength, (ii) High modulus of elasticity, and (iii) Microcracking caused by restrained thermal and drying shrinkage or service loading. This paper critically examines some possible future scenarios to achieve long-term durability in RCS, including: a) Improvement in the corrosion behavior of the metallic reinforcement through the use of corrosion inhibitors, protection of the reinforcement with a coating, change in the composition of reinforcing bars, or cathodic protection; b) Use of non metallic reinforcement; c) Increase in the tensile strength and/or ductility or concrete mixtures based on rubber-like polymer additions; and d) Surface coatings for concrete protection.

• Corporate Authors:

  American Concrete Institute (ACI)

  38800 Country Club Drive
  Farmington Hills, MI  United States  48331
• Authors:
  • Collepardi, M
• Conference:
  • Fifth CANMET/ACI International Conference on Durability of Concrete
  • Location: Barcelona, Spain
  • Date: 2000-6-4 to 2000-6-9
• Publication Date: 2000

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 1-17

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cathodic protection; Coatings; Corrosion; Corrosion protection; Ductility; Durability; Inhibitors (Chemistry); Microcracking; Modulus of elasticity; Nonmetals; Polymers; Reinforced concrete; Reinforcing bars; Reinforcing steel; Structures; Surfaces; Tensile strength
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways; Materials; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls; I32: Concrete;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00793927
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: SP 192-1
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 26 2000 12:00AM