Durability of Reinforced concrete

 Concrete- an indispensable material-steel structures- replaced by

concrete and composite sections
 Status of new structures on balance finite sources of our planet
 Specifications for concrete to serve the required life
 Over specifications and under specifications both dangerous
 Fundamental of sustainability- specifications and attain durable concrete
 Stability of structure over required life- requires implications of
durability failure
 Key issues related to specifier and end user shall be included
 Design life , serviceability, acceptable level of risk and maintenance-
through mathematical models of deterioration, specific tests and
durability design through probability
 Serviceability- on set of corrosion-spalling cycle, % of surface area in a
deteriorated condition
 Structural failures – rare, durability failures- not uncommon, because of
short comings in execuation or inadequate specifications
National durability grade concept
• Cement content sufficient for strength also sufficient for durability.
• After 1960- increase in strength of cement – durability recommendations- through minimum
cement content and maximum W/C ratio
• National durability grade – to address the inconsistency between strength and durability
• Link between specifications for durability and a measure for its attainment through
impermeability
• Performance related – determine durability requirements in quantitative way- intended working life
and criteria defining durability
• Required parameters of concrete- in 3 ways- 1) durability requirement of project and limiting values
of concrete composition 2) based on approved conditions which are to be faced 3) predictive models.
• Approach based on required service life, deterioration mechanism , predictive durability models
• Introduction of exposure classes based on deterioration mechanism rather than environment
• Performance tests- carbonation, sulfate resistance, cover based on statistical evaluation
• Specifications of durable concrete through
• A) all encompassing prescriptive approach- deemed to be satisfied- cover & concrete quality
• B) deterioration specific prescriptive approach- frequently used- comprehensive
exposure//environmental classification
• C) durability design method and testing- potential more reliable- each relevant deterioration and
expected life of structure
• Right mix does not guarantee the achievement of required level of impermeability
• Durability design method- considers the type of structure, material properties, required life , quality
of practice at site.
• Durability design and development of performance based specifications is the need of hour
•
• Appropriate parameters – through a) satisfactory experience – application of similar
materials and practices
• b) performance test methods- for each deterioration mechanism and producer prove
adequacy of mix by referring to relevant approval test
• c) predictive models-mathematical modeling of deterioration mechanism like corrosion etc.
• It relates the rate of deterioration of a given mechanism to measurable parameters of
concrete
• Changes to codes and standards shall focus on validating deterioration mechanism from
laboratory as well as filed tests , and applying risk analysis to durability specifications.
• Risk analysis consider the service life based on probability principles.
• Durability of concrete from economic and environmental angle- economic point- premature
expenditure on the structure,
 Probabilistic design approach to Durability

• Specification for durability- material properties shall meet performance requirements over life
• Degradation models of deterministic nature are being used
• Design life- when the structure reaches the maximum tolerable level of damage – service life
then assessed based on degradation mechanism.
• Design life- supporting decision to specification of material properties- in turn to life cycle
cost analysis
• Specifications for durability- amenable to mathematical analysis, but variability to be taken
• Principles are similar to structural design methods- a beam fails when max demand BM
exceeds UMR- R- S >= 0 , R – moment of resistance and S is applied bending moment.