Chapter 2

DURABILITY AND DETERIORATION

OF CONCRETE STRUCTURES

DURABILITY OF CONCRETE
As defined in the Indian Code of Practice for Plain and Reinforced, a
durable concrete is one that performs satisfactorily in the working
environment during its anticipated exposure conditions during
service. The materials and mix proportions specified and used should
be such as to maintain its integrity and, if applicable, to protect
embedded metal from corrosion.

One of the main characteristics influencing the durability of

concrete is its permeability to the ingress of water, oxygen, carbon
dioxide, chloride, sulphate and other potentially deleterious
substances. Impermeability is governed by the constituents and
workmanship used in making the concrete. With normal-weight
aggregates a suitably low permeability is achieved by having an
adequate cement content, sufficiently low free water/cement ratio, by
ensuring complete compaction of the concrete, and by adequate
curing.

The factors influencing durability include:

(a) the environment;
(b) the cover to embedded steel;
(c) the type and quality of constituent materials;
(d) the cement content and water/cement ratio of the concrete;
(e) workmanship, to obtain full compaction and efficient curing; and
(f) the shape and size of the member.

Chapter 2 1
 The degree of exposure anticipated for the concrete during its
service life together with other relevant factors relating to mix
composition, workmanship, design and detailing should be
considered. The concrete mix to provide adequate durability under
these conditions should be chosen taking account of the accuracy of
adopted testing regimes for control and compliance.

REQUIREMENT OF DURABILITY
Shape and Size of Member
The shape or design details of exposed structures should be such as
to promote good drainage of water and to avoid standing pools and
rundown of water. Care should also be taken to minimize any cracks
that may collect or transmit water. Adequate curing is essential to
avoid the harmful effects of early loss of moisture. Member profiles
and their intersections with other members shall be designed and
detailed in a way to ensure easy flow of concrete and proper
compaction during concreting.
Concrete is more vulnerable to deterioration due to chemical or
climatic attack when it is in thin sections, in sections under
hydrostatic pressure from one side only, in partially immersed
sections and at corners and edges of elements. The life of the
structure can be lengthened by providing extra cover to steel, by
chamfering the corners or by using circular cross-sections or by using
surface coating which prevent or reduce the ingress of water, carbon
dioxide or aggressive chemicals.

Exposure Conditions
General environment: The general environment to which the concrete
will be exposed during its working life is classified into five levels of
severity, that is, mild, moderate, severe, very severe and extreme as
described in Table 2.1.

Table 2.1 Environmental Exposure Conditions (IS: 456-2000)

Sl. Environment Exposure Conditions

Chapter 2 2
 No.
(i) Mild Concrete surfaces protected against weather or
aggressive conditions, except those situated in
coastal area.
(ii) Moderate Concrete surfaces sheltered from severe rain or
freezing whilst wet.
Concrete exposed to condensation and rain.
Concrete continuously under water.
Concrete in contact or buried under non-aggressive
soil/ground water.
Concrete surfaces sheltered from saturated salt air
in coastal area.
(iii) Severe Concrete surfaces exposed to severe rain, alternate
wetting and drying or occasional freezing shilst wet
or severe condensation.
Concrete completely immersed in sea water.
Concrete exposed to coastal environment.
(iv) Very severe Concrete surfaces exposed to sea water spray,
corrosive fumes or severe freezing conditions whilst
wet.
Concrete in contact with or buried under aggressive
sub-soil/ground water
(v) Extreme Surface of members in tidal zone.
Members in direct contact with liquid/ solid
aggressive chemicals.

Exposure to Sulphate Attack

Recommendations for the type of cement, maximum free
water/cement ratio and minimum cement content, which are required
at different sulphate concentrations in near-neutral ground water
having pH to 6 to 9, are given in Table 2.2.

For the very high sulphate concentrations in Class 5 conditions,

some form of lining such as polyethylene or polychloroprene sheet; or
surface coating based on asphalt, chlorinated rubber, epoxy; or
polyurethane materials should also be used to prevent access by the
sulphate solution.

Chapter 2 3
Table 2.2 Requirements for Concrete Exposed to Sulphate Attack
(IS: 456-2000)
Sl. Class Concentration of Sulphates, Type of Content Dense, Fully Compacted
No. Expressed as SO3 Concrete, Made with 20
In Soil In mm Nominal Maximum
Total SO3 SO3 in 2:1 Ground Size Aggregates Comp-
Water: lying with IS 383
Water
Soil Extract Minimum Maximum
Cement Face Water-
Percent g/l g/l Content Cement
kg/m3 Ratio
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8)
i) 1 Traces Les than Less than Ordinary 280 0.55
(<0.2) 1.0 0.3 Portland cement
or Portland
pozzolana
cement
ii) 2 0.2 to 1.0 to 0.3 to Ordinary 310 0.50
0.5 1.9 1.2 Portland cement
or Portland slag
cement or
Portland cement
Supersulphated 330 0.50
cement or
sulphate
resisting
Portland cement
iii) 3 0.5 to 1.9 to 1.2 to Supersulphated 350 0.45
1.0 3.1 2.5 cement or
sulphate
resisting
Portland slag
cement
iv) 4 1.0 to 3.1 to 2.5 to Supersulphated 370 0.45
2.0 5.0 5.0 or sulphate
resisting
Portland cement
v) 5 More More than More Sulphate 400 0.40
than 2.0 2.0 than 2.0 resisting
Portland
cement or
supersulphated
cement with
productive
coatings
NOTES
1. Cement content given in this table is irrespective of grades of cement.
2. Use of supersulphated cement is generally restricted where the prevailing temperature is above 40C.
3. Supersulphated cement gives an acceptable life provided that the concrete is dense and prepared with
a water-cement ratio of 0.4 or less, in mineral acids, down to pH 3.5.
4. The cement contents given in col 7 of this table are the minimum recommended. For SO 3 contents
near the upper limit of any class, cement contents above these minimum are advised.
5. For severe conditions, such as thin sections under hydrostatic pressure on one side only and section
partly immersed, considerations should be given to a further reduction of water-cement ratio.
6. Portland slag cement conforming to IS 455 with slag content more than 50 percent exhibits better
sulphate resisting properties.
7. Where chloride is encountered along with sulphates in soil or ground water, ordinary Portland cement
with C3A content from 5 to 8 percent shall be desirable to be used in concrete, instead of sulphate
resisting cement. Alternatively, Portland slag cement conforming to IS 455 having more than 50

Chapter 2 4
 percent slag or a blend or ordinary Portland cement and slag may be used provided sufficient
information is available on performance of such blended cements in these conditions.

Chapter 2 5
Requirement of Concrete Cover

The protection of the steel in concrete against corrosion depends upon

an adequate thickness of good quality concrete.

The nominal cover to the reinforcement should be provided as

per the provisions in the Indian Code IS: 456-2000.

Concrete Mix Proportions

The free water-cement ratio is an important factor in governing the
durability of concrete and should always be the lowest value.
Appropriate values for minimum cement content and the maximum
free water-cement ratio are given in Table 2.3 for different exposure
conditions. The minimum cement content and maximum water-
cement ratio apply to 20 mm nominal maximum size aggregate. For
other sizes of aggregate they should be changed as given in Table 2.4.
Cement content not including fly ash and ground granulated blast
furnace slag should generally be not in excess of 450 kg/m3.

Mix Constituents
For concrete to be durable, careful selection of the mix and materials
is necessary, so that deleterious constituents do not exceed the limits.

Chlorides in concrete
Whenever there is chloride in concrete there is an increased risk of
corrosion of embedded metal. The higher the chloride content, or if
subsequently exposed to warm moist conditions, the greater the risk
of corrosion. All constituents may contain chlorides and concrete
maybe contaminated by chlorides from the external environment. To
minimize the chances of deterioration of concrete from harmful
chemical salts, the levels of such harmful salts in concrete coming
from concrete materials, that is, cement, aggregates, water and
Chapter 2 6
admixtures, as well as by diffusion form the environment should be
limited. The total amount of chloride content (as CI) in the concrete at
the time of placing should be as given in Table 2.5.

Sulphates in concrete
Sulphates are present in most cements and in some aggregates;
excessive amounts of water-soluble sulphate from these or other mix
constituents can cause expansion and disruption of concrete. To
prevent this, the total water-soluble sulphate content of the concrete
mix, expressed as SO3, should not exceed 4 per cent by mass of the
cement in the mix. The sulphate content should be calculated as the
total from the various constituents of the mix. The sulphate content
should be calculated as the total from the various constituents of the
mix.

The 4 per cent limit does not apply to concrete made with
supersulphated cement complying with IS 6909.

Alkali-aggregate reaction
Some aggregates containing particular varieties of silica may be
susceptible to attack by alkalis (Na2O and K2O) originating from
cement or other sources, producing an expansive reaction, which can
cause cracking and disruption of concrete. Damage to concrete form
this reaction will normally only occur when all the following are
present together:

a) A high moisture level, within the concrete;

b) A cement with high alkali content, or another source of
alkali;
c) Aggregate containing an alkali reactive constituent.
Where the service records of particular cement/aggregate combination
are well established, and do not include any instances of cracking due
Chapter 2 7
to alkali-aggregate reaction, no further precautions should be
necessary. But when the materials are unfamiliar, precautions
should take on or more of the following forms:

a) Use of non-reactive aggregate from alternate sources.

b) Use of low alkali ordinary Portland cement having total alkali

content not more than 0.6 per cent (as Na2O equivalent)

c) Measure to reduce the degree of saturation of the concrete

during service such as use of impermeable membranes.

d) Limiting the cement content in the concrete mix and thereby

limiting total alkali content in the concrete mix. For more
guidance specialist literatures may be referred.

Table 2.3 Minimum Cement Content, Maximum Water-Cement Ratio

and Minimum Grade of Concrete for Different Exposures
with Normal Weight Aggregates of 20 mm Nominal
Maximum Size (IS:456-2000)
Sl. Exposure Plain Concrete Reinforced Concrete
No.
Minimum Maximum Minimum Minimum Maximum Minimum
Cement Free Water- Grade of Cement Free Water- Grade of
Content Cement Concrete Content Cement Concrete
kg/m3 Ratio kg/m3 Ratio
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8)
i) Mild 220 0.60 -- 300 0.55 M 20
ii) Moderate 240 0.60 M 15 300 0.50 M 25
iii) Severe 250 0.50 M 20 320 0.45 M 30
iv) Very severe 260 0.45 M 20 340 0.45 M 35
v) Extreme 280 0.40 M 25 360 0.40 M 40
NOTES
1. Cement content prescribed in this table is irrespective of the grades of cement and it is inclusive of
supplementary cementitious materials. The additions such as fly ash or ground granulated blast
furnace slag may be taken into account in the concrete composition with respect to the cement
content and water-cement ratio if the suitability is established and as long as the maximum amounts
taken into account do not exceed the limit of pozzolona and slag specified in IS 1489 (Part I) and IS
455 respectively.
2. Minimum grade for plain concrete under mild exposure condition is not specified.

Chapter 2 8
Table 2.4 Adjustments of Minimum Cement Contents for Aggregates Other Than
20 mm Nominal Maximum Size (IS:456-2000)
Sl. No. Nominal Maximum Adjustments to Minimum Cement
Aggregate Size Contents in Table 2.3 kg/m3
i) 10 +40
ii) 20 0
iii) 40 -30

Table 2.5 Limits of Chloride Content of Concrete (IS: 465-2000)

Sl. Type or Use of Concrete Maximum Total Acid Soluble
No. Chloride Content Expressed
as kg/m3 of Concrete
i) Concrete containing metal and steam 0.4
cured at elevated temperature and
pre-stressed concrete
ii) Reinforced concrete or plain concrete 0.6
containing embedded metal
iii) Concrete not containing embedded 3.0
metal or any material requiring
protection from chloride

Concrete in Aggressive Soils and Water

The destructive action of aggressive waters on concrete is progressive.
The rate of deterioration decreases as the concrete is made stronger
and more impermeable, and increases as the salt content of the water
increases. Where structures are only partially immersed or are in
contact with aggressive soils or waters on one side only, evaporation
may cause serious concentrations of salts with subsequent
deterioration, even where the original salt content of the soil or water
is not high.

Compaction, Finishing and Curing

Adequate compaction without segregation should be ensured by
providing suitable workability and by employing appropriate placing
and compacting equipment and procedures. Full compaction is
Chapter 2 9
particularly important in the vicinity of construction and movement
joints and of embedded water bars and reinforcement.

Good finishing practices are essential for durable concrete.

Overworking the surface and the addition of water/cement to

aid in finishing should be avoided; the resulting laitance will have
impaired strength and durability and will be particularly vulnerable to
freezing and thawing under wet conditions.

It is essential to use proper and adequate curing techniques to

reduce the permeability of the concrete and enhance its durability by
extending by hydration of the cement, particularly in its surface zone.

Concrete in Sea-water
Concrete in sea-water or exposed directly along the sea-coast shall be
at least M 20 Grade in the case of plain concrete and M 30 in case of
reinforced concrete. The use of slag or pozzolana cement is
advantageous under such conditions.

Special attention should be given to the design of the mix to

obtain the densest possible concrete; slag, broken brick, soft
limestone, soft sandstone, or other porous or weak aggregates should
not be used.

As far as possible, preference shall be given to Precast members

unreinforced, well-cured and hardened, without sharp corners, and
having trowel-smooth finished surfaces free from crazing, cracks or
other defects; plastering should be avoided.

No construction joints shall be allowed within 600 mm below

low water-level or within 600 mm of the upper and lower planes of
wave action. Where usually severe conditions or abrasion are
anticipated, such parts of the work should be protected by bituminous
or silico-fluoride coatings or stone facing bedded with bitumen.
Chapter 2 10
 In reinforced concrete structures, care should be taken to
protect the reinforcement from exposure to saline atmosphere during
storage, fabrication and use. It may be achieved by treating the
surface of reinforcement with cement wash or by suitable methods.

Deterioration of Concrete
Having discussed the basic requirements for achieving durability in
concrete, let us now turn towards the causes and factors responsible
for deterioration of concrete.

The main causes are given in Fig.2.1.

One of the many fascinating properties of concrete is its

relationship with the steel embedded in it. Historically, attempts were
made to reinforce concrete with metals such as bronze. The resulting
failures were due to the difference in thermal expansion coefficients
between the bronze and the concrete. Steel has a similar enough
thermal expansion coefficient to concrete to avoid damage. Although
steel corrodes in a moist oxygenated concrete exposed to the outdoor
atmosphere, steel does not necessarily corrode once it is encased in
concrete for reasons discussed later in this chapter.

There are two major mechanisms for the corrosion of steel in

concrete that do not require the degradation of the concrete before the
steel is attacked. The first of these is carbonation and the second is
chloride attack.

Carbonation
Reinforcement corrosion is prevented by the alkali content of the
concrete. During the hydration process calcium, sodium and
potassium hydroxides are formed, which dissolve in the pore water of

Chapter 2 11
 Sources of Materials Design of Environmental Loading
deterioration construction

Cement type/ Poor detailing Presence of Inadequate

quality CO2 and acid design
Mix design gases

Poor Insufficient Freeze - thaw Impact

Potential aggregate cover to
selection/ reinforcement
reactivity

Incorrect Poor drainage Salt and Vibration

water: cement chemical attack
causes (deicing salts,
ratio ground water)

Mechanical Inadequate Biotechnical Settlement

of strength of design for growth
aggregate creep

Additives or Poor mixing Weathering Seismic

deterioration contaminants

Poor Thermal Change of use

vibration and movement increased floor
loadings
compaction

Bleeding and Fire damage Wind

segregation

Poor Inadequate
construction maintenance
joints

Problematic
finishes

Inadequate
maintenance

Fig.2.1: Sources and causes of concrete damage, defects and decay

the concrete to form a very alkaline solution of around pH 12-13.5. At

this level, steel forms a very thin, protective oxide known as a passive
layer. This is self-sustaining and maintaining; it is far better than

Chapter 2 12
synthetic or metallic coatings that deteriorate or are consumed. The
passive layer will sustain and maintain itself indefinitely as long as
the alkalinity stays above about pH11 without contamination.

Carbonation is eventually inevitable, and is caused by the

ingress of atmospheric carbon dioxide reacting with the pore water to
form carbonic acid. The neutralises the alkalinity in the concrete.
This occurs progressively, and a carbonation front moves through the
concrete until it reaches the steel. The passive layer then breaks
down as the pH falls from over 12 to around 8 corrosion can start in
the presence of oxygen and water as the pH falls below 11. The
carbonation front moves approximately according to the following
parabolic relationship:

Carbonation depth = Constant x Square root of time

A typical Portland cement concrete may show a carbonation depth of

5-8 mm after 10 years, rising to 10-15 mm after 50 years, as reported
by the British Research Establishment in their publications.
Therefore structures with low concrete cover over the reinforcing steel
will show carbonation-induced corrosion more quickly than those with
good cover.

The rate of decay of reinforcing steel in concrete is also affected

by the concrete quality. Concretes made with a high water to
cementitious ratio and with a low cementitious content will carbonate
more quickly than well-made concretes because they are more porous
and have lower reserves of alkali to resist the neutralisation process.
For concretes with pulverised fuel ash or other cement replacement
materials, the drop of alkaline reserves is usually balanced by the
increase in concrete quality for an equivalent Portland cement, except
at high replacement levels in dry conditions.

The rate of carbonation is also affected by environmental

conditions. Carbonation is more rapid in fairly dry and wet/dry
Chapter 2 13
cycling environments. It may therefore occur more rapidly in
bathrooms and kitchens in blocks of flats, and in multi-storey car
parks where the carbon dioxide levels are high due to exhaust fumes.

Chloride attack
The second major cause of reinforcement corrosion is chloride attack.
This is usually due to one of the following causes:

 de-icing salt ingress from roads and vehicle (in colder countries);
 sea-salt ingress in marine environments;
 cast-in salt from contaminated mix components;
 cast-in calcium chloride as a set accelerator.
A certain level of chloride is needed for corrosion to occur. Figure 2.2.
illustrates the relationship between chloride level, carbonation and
corrosion risk.

Once the chloride level at the reinforcement exceeds 0.4% by

weight of cement (approximately 0.06% or 600 ppm by weight of
sample assuming 15% cement content), there is a significant risk of
corrosion, especially in the presence of moisture. Obviously, if cast-in
chlorides exceed 0.4%, then the corrosion risk rises.

For chlorides that are diffusing into the concrete (as a result of
salty sea spray or de-icing salts, for example), it can be a useful
approximation to calculate the progress of a 0.4% chloride by weight
cement-corrosion threshold progressing through the concrete at a
parabolic rate comparable to the carbonation rate equation above:

Chloride threshold progress rate = Constant x Square root of time

As with carbonation, chloride-ingress rates are a function of

concrete quality and environment. For concrete with low
reinforcement cover, and particularly for poor-quality concrete,
chlorides can be transported rapidly by wetting and drying absorption
and by capillary action that almost sucks the chloride-laden water

Chapter 2 14
into the concrete. The water than evaporates and leaves the salt
behind. In good-quality concrete with good cover to the
reinforcement, diffusion processes predominate.

The corrosion process

Regardless of the cause of corrosion, once the steel’s passive-layer
protection is lost, corrosion proceeds by the mechanism illustrated in
Fig.2.3. Corrosion of steel in concrete is an electrochemical reaction
in which the major constituent of steel (iron) goes into solution as iron
ions with a flow of electrons (electrical flow). This site is called the
anode. Electrons are produced in this self-sustaining process and
flow through the reinforcement towards cathodic sites where they
react with oxygen and water from outside to produce additional
as a percentage of cement content
hydroxyl ions. This is known as the cathodic reaction. As can be seen
in the diagram, the cathodic reaction requires water and oxygen.

CHLORIDE ION CONTENT CARBONATION

as a percentage of cement content

Lower (up to 0.4%)

Less than cover depth

Medium (0.4 to 1%)

Greater than cover depth

High above (1.0%)

Low corrosion risk in all environments

Moderate corrosion risk in damp conditions
High corrosion risk exacerbated by damp and poor concrete
quality
Fig.2.2: Risk of corrosion in relation to concrete analysis.

The initial anodic reaction does not require anything, once the steel is
depassivated, it is only when the iron has reacted to become the

Chapter 2 15
soluble ferrous ion that it will react with the hydroxide ion (the
alkalinity in the concrete), and then with oxygen and water to create
the solid rust whose volume increase will crack and spall the concrete.

The fact that oxygen is not required at the anode is important

because the exclusion of oxygen from anodic areas without stifling the
cathodic reaction will lead to dissolution of the reinforcement rather
than cracking and spalling of the concrete. This can happen in local
saturation conditions where the concrete is very wet and therefore
conductive enough to allow good separation between anodes and
cathodes.

The ingredients for corrosion are therefore:

 carbonation or sufficient chloride at reinforcement depth to
depassivate the steel;
 oxygen to fuel the cathodic reaction and to create the expansive
oxide;
 water to fuel the cathodic reaction and to create the expansive
oxide;
 concrete of low enough resistivity to allow the electrochemical
anode and cathode reactions to proceed.

Bursting Forces
from oxide expansion

+ Anode +
Cathode + + Cathode

Anode Reactions
Fe  Fe2+ + 2e
Fe2+ + 2OH  Fe(OH)2
Cathode Reaction
I/2O2 + H2O + 2e  2OH
4 Fe(OH)2 + O2 + 2H2O  4 Fe(OH)2

Fig.2.3: The corrosion process for steel in concrete

Chapter 2 16
 These ingredients, along with the electrical nature of the
reactions, can therefore be used to assess the corrosion condition.

Design and construction defects

The performance of reinforced concrete can be severely reduced by
poor design and construction techniques. These may cause
reinforcement corrosion or degradation of the concrete itself, which in
turn may lead to reinforcement corrosion. Insufficient concrete cover
to the reinforcement is a major influence on the durability of
reinforced-concrete buildings and structures.

A number of problems, particularly with older structures, occur

at the design stage, such as:

 older codes do not specify adequate cover, especially in saline

environments;

 designers used to specify cover to the main steel, which meant

that there was inadequate cover to stirrups, clips and so on;

 details such as drips, grooving of surfaces, and so on, reduced

overall cover, often to vulnerable steel at corners and in areas of
water run-off.

During construction a number of problems may arise,

including:

 detailing that makes it difficult to achieve the specified cover;

 incorrect reinforcement placing;

 movement of reinforcement within shutters from the specified

cover.

Poor consolidation of the concrete during pouring leaves

honeycombing and voids in the concrete. These are frequently visible
at corners and slab ends, where the cement paste does not completely
Chapter 2 17
surround the larger aggregate particles. Problems can occur over
congested steel, where it is difficult to ensure that the concrete flows
into all the interstitial spaces.

Concrete constituents and manufacture

There are a number of problems that can occur with the concrete mix
at either the design or the execution stage. These include:

 high water to cementitious materials ratio  this leads to a

porous concrete susceptible to carbonation and chloride
ingress;

 cast-in chlorides  until the mid - 1980s, calcium chloride set

accelerator was considered to be a useful and safe admixture,
as chlorides were considered to be bound into the concrete;
similarly, seawater was used during construction on marine
projects, a practice we now know to be problematic. Accidental
inclusion of chlorides also occurs due to poorly washed mix
constituents and contaminated water supplies;

 inadequate slump  the reverse of high water to cementitious

materials ratio, with inadequate superplasticisers giving rise to
poor consolidation resulting in honeycombing and voids;

 alkali-aggregate reaction  where the aggregate reacts to the

alkalinity of the cement.

Creep
Creep is caused by water being squeezed from the pores of the
concrete owing to the sustained load of the concrete itself.
Deformation due to creep is time-dependent, and it may not become
apparent until some months after a structure has been completed.
Allowance for deflection due to creep is made at the design stage.

Chapter 2 18
Where inadequate allowance has been made for creep, finishes may be
affected by cracking. Openings may deflect, causing doors or windows
to jam, for example.

Concrete degradation due to chemical attack

As already mentioned, concrete is a relatively durable material, but it
can be severely weakened by poor manufacture, the inclusion of
damaging constituents or aggressive environments. As mentioned
above, there are a number of causes of degradation of the concrete
matrix.

Alkali-aggregate reactivity
As described previously, concrete pore water is highly alkaline.
Unfortunately, some aggregates used to make concrete react with the
alkalinity to form products that swell and damage the concrete.

The most common alkali-aggregate reaction is an alkali-silica

reaction, known as ASR. Soluble silicates in the aggregates react and
form silica gels. These gels absorb water and expand. The result is a
‘map cracking’ effect and efflorescence.

Many aggregates exhibit ASR to a greater or lesser extent when

examined by petrographic analysis under a microscope. A more
limited number show serious problems which are now well
characterised in terms of type and source. It may be possible to slow
ASR by the application of coatings and sealers.

Sulphate attack
It has been mentioned earlier in this chapter that sulphates of
sodium, calcium, potassium and aluminium are found in groundwater
and soils and can cause degradation of the concrete matrix by

Chapter 2 19
expansive attack of the calcium hydroxide and calcium aluminates in
the concrete. Wet/dry cycling causes salts to be accumulated on the
concrete surface, resulting in degradation. Delayed ettringite
formation, and the recently discovered problem of thaumasite attack
of concrete, are also forms of sulphate attack. More than 0.1% water-
soluble sulfate in soil or 150 p.p.m in water is moderate exposure to
sulfate attack. More than 2% in water or 10000 p.p.m in soil is severe
exposure. A high-quality dense, blended cement concrete gives good
sulfate resistance. Low C3A content cements have the disadvantage of
low resistance to chloride ingress, so in cases where the sulphates are
from marine exposure, sulphate-resistant Portland cement may
accelerate chloride-induced corrosion.

Environmental influences
In addition to the damage caused to concrete as a result of exposure
to environmental agents such as carbon dioxide and acid gases, there
are a number of other environmental factors that can cause
deterioration.

Staining
Water-staining of unpainted concrete is a major problem in many
cases. The porosity and water-absorption characteristics of concrete
seem to make it more susceptible than brick and stone to this type of
soiling. Concrete can be cleaned like any natural stone or brickwork,
and similarly removing surface laitance can make it more susceptible
to future staining.

Erosion
Continuous water run-down, especially of water containing suspended
solids, will erode concrete with time. Salt water and other aggressive
solutions will etch concrete.

Chapter 2 20
Efflorescence
Efflorescence can occur due to ASR, water run-off, or water running
through slabs and carrying away the soluble calcium

Freeze-thaw damage
Freeze-thaw damage occurs where water accumulates in cracks, voids
or pores of the concrete, and then freezes quickly enough so that the
expansion cracks the concrete. Air-entrainment produces pores and
small voids in the concrete of a size to avoid freeze-thaw. Older
structures (that may not have been well air-entrained) and those in a
severe heating/cooling environment will suffer from the scaling away
of the concrete surface due to freeze-thaw damage.

Structural damage
Structural damage can result from;

 inadequate design or construction;

 settlement or other ground movement;
 overloading or change of use;
 fire damage;
 impact damage;
 seismic damage;
 wind damage.
These are usually easily identified by a qualified engineer.
There are wellproven methods to rectify these problems. The
importance of a structural appraisal in determining a concrete
building’s suitability for use cannot be underestimated.

In most Western countries there are usually sufficient resources

and expertise to prevent corrosion from becoming a structural
problem. However, the removal of the cover concrete by the expansive

Chapter 2 21
growth of oxides will reduce the bond between steel and concrete,
which could allow bars to bend or buckle, or allow stirrups to corrode
through. Any of these factors may lead to structural damage.

The greatest structural corrosion risk is on prestressed concrete

structures. If post-tensioning tendons are inadequately protected
against corrosion, then there is a risk of catastrophic failure as they
are typically loaded to 80% of their load-bearing capacity. Tendons in
conduits in prestressed concrete, for example, are very difficult to
examine by normal non-destructive methods, so failures can go
undetected.

Identification of defects, damage and decay mechanisms

The importance of correctly identifying the causes of concrete damage,
defects and decay, and the need and methodology for carrying out
appraisals and assessments, should be clearly understood by the
practising engineers.

There area huge number of techniques for identifying and

measuring defects and damage in concrete buildings and structures.
The most important is the human eye and experience. A good
engineer or technician, experienced in condition surveys, will know
the differences between cracks produced by corrosion, ASR and
thermal or other movement. This alleviates the necessity for extensive
non-destructive testing to identify the source of the problem. Correct
identification of defects and decay mechanisms is imperative to ensure
that the repair is correctly targeted to the problem.

It is essential to plan any investigation carefully regardless of its

scope, to ensure that any latent damage is revealed. Any investigation
is reliant on the skills of the investigator, and their ability to utilise
the tools and to interpret the results. Careful planning will need to

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take into account the effects of noise, the disruption to any building
users and access issues. There may be aesthetic issues to consider
and for some buildings, statutory consent may be required prior to
any testing or sampling procedures.

The principal aim of the investigation is always thoroughly to

evaluate the condition and performance of the building or structure;
that is identify the cause, measure the extent and progress of the
damage, and assess this against necessary performance. This
information is used as the basis for the repair strategy.

Documentary evidence of the building’s condition in the past,

such as photographs and previous reports, are useful ways of
measuring the progress of deterioration. This is an important part of
any appraisal process and can also be used to assess the timing
frequency and prioritisation of repair works. It is, therefore, important
that the visual survey is as quantitative as possible in recording the
location and size of defects so that their growth, if any, can be
monitored.

Structural monitoring, environmental monitoring and corrosion

monitoring are all tools in the assessment process, which will be
discussed in a separate chapter.

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CONCLUDING REMARKS AND SUMMARY
This chapter deals with the durability issues of concrete as presented
in the Indian Code of Practice for Plain and Reinforced concrete (IS:
456:2000). The main factors influencing the durability, such as the
exposure conditions, the cover to reinforcement, the type and quality
of constituent materials, the cement content, the water-to-
cementitious materials ratio, compaction, curing, and workmanship
have been highlighted.

Following the durability parameters, the causes of deterioration

of concrete have been elaborated. Special emphasis have been said on
carbonation, chloride attack and reinforcement corrosion in concrete
on one hand and weathering actions and structural damages on the
other.

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Questions:
1. How would you define the durability of concrete and what are
the prime factors that influence the durability?
2. What do you understand by the environment exposure
conditions and how are they classified?
3. What are the design norms for concrete, when it is exposed to
severity classes 3 and 4 of sulphate attack?
4. Why is the water-cement ratio important for concrete durability
and what are the norms for maintaining this ratio in concretes
exposed to different exposure conditions?
5. Enumerate the potential causes of concrete deterioration.
6. What are the major causes of reinforcement corrosion? Under
what conditions high corrosion risks are envisaged for
reinforcement bars?
7. What are the conditions that lead to alkali-silica reactions in
concrete and what are the manifestations of such reactions?
8. What are the factors causing structural damage to concrete?
Describe the weathering effects on concrete.

Source References:
1. Indian Code of Practice for Plain and Reinforced Concrete, IS:465-2000, Bureau of
Indian Standards, New Delhi.

2. Concrete Building Pathology, Edited by Susan Macdonald, Blackwell Publishers, USA.

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