Effects of carbonation and chloride ingress on the durability of concrete structures Scientific paper

Abstract

The durability of concrete structures, which are designed for long-term use is predominantly determined by the resistance to chemical influences, i.e., the concrete’s ability to protect the reinforcement steel. The carbonation and the chloride ingress into concrete are the most significant causes of steel corrosion and the potential failure of the structure. The primary goal is to ensure that any significant damage does not occur during the structure's service life, primarily achieved by selecting an adequate thickness of the concrete cover. The issue is approached through calculations based on performance ana­lyses, and the use of appropriate models for these chemical phenomena. The paper provides a brief overview and the methodology for analysing the impact on the durability of concrete structures in accordance with the leading inter­nat­ional normative documents. The emphasis is on the recent changes intro­duced in second generation of European Eurocode standards. The conse­quences of the analysed phenomena are presented through the results of field tests conducted at salt factories, coke industries, and thermal power plants, and through labor­atory tests. The tests were performed in order to develop a rapid prediction method for the measure of chloride ingress into concrete without the stimul­ating chloride ion migration by electricity, as an alternative to standardized tests.