DURABILITY AND ITS

TESTS ON CONCRETE

M ARUN
19241D2013
DEFINITION : It is defined as its ability to resist weathering
action, chemical attack, abrasion and deterioration.

90% of the deterioration effects due to water and its

components.

EXPECTED LIFE TIME OF STUCTURES

* RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS  50 to 70 years

* BRIDGES  100 years and above
* MONUMENTS  More than 500 years
* Water tanks  Only 15 years
Epoxy coating for
water tightness and to
avoid fungus
formation.
•The second major constituent for durability is
STEEL

Why steel is major constituent?

Because of its corrosive nature it becomes less

durable.
•Progressive loss of mass from the surface

•Volume changes

* only paste expands  Sulphate attack

* only aggregate expands Alkali-Silica reaction
* Both paste and aggregate expands  Due to freezing
Primary issues :

• Corrosion of bars
• Chemical attack Deterioration mechanism
• Alkali Silica reaction

• Permeability
• Diffusion Multiple transport mechanism
• Absorption
 Consequences of Improper Quality and
Inadequate Durability

• Loss of strength of concrete

• Concrete liable to be easily affected by deterrents
• Corrosion of bars
• Loss of serviceability
• Unpleasant appearance
• Danger to persons and property
• Expensive repair costs
•Alkali- aggregate reaction
 Factors Influencing Durability of Concrete
(IS: 456-2000)

* The Environment
* Type and quality of constituent materials
* Cement content and W/C ratio of concrete
* Workmanship especially in compaction curing – it is very
important
* Cover to embedded steel
* Shape and size of the member
 Factors Affecting Durability

Durability depends on two main factors

a)The concrete system &
b)The service environment

Concrete system is based on

a)Quality and quantity of materials used and
b)Processes involved in manufacture of concrete.

Service environment affects concrete by way of

a) Physical actions and
b) Chemical actions on concrete.
 Selection of Good Quality Materials
(Conforming to relevant IS codes)

* Cement (from Reputed Manufacturers)

* Sand (River / Crushed, Silt < 5%)
* Aggregates (Cubical in shape, Innocuous)
* Water (Tested) with PH value ranging (6 to 8)
* Admixture (From Reputed Manufacturer)
 Water - Permissible Limits for Solids.
(IS 456:2000 Table-1)

Sr.
No. Tested as per Permissible Limit, Max
1 Organic IS 3025 (Part 18) 200 mg/l
2 Inorganic IS 3025 (Part 18) 3000 mg/l
3 Sulfates (as SO3) IS 3025 (Part 24) 400 mg/l
4 Chlorides (as CI) IS 3025 (Part 32) 2000 mg/l
5 Suspended matter IS 3025 (Part 17) 2000 mg/l
 Compaction of Concrete

* Ensuring suitable workability employing appropriate placing and

compaction equipment
* Adequate compaction without segregation
* 1% voids reduces strength by 5%
 CURING OF CONCRETE

•Proper curing provides heat of hydration and water tightness to the

structure

•Due to improper curing the cracks form in the initial state itself

Both compaction and curing must be adequate

Cracks due to inadequate curing
 Environment can be classified as

Physical –
Temperature, Moisture, alternate wetting and drying, freezing and
thawing

Chemical –
Acidic, gaseous, alkaline, corrosive
Temperature :

* Significantly affects rate of hydration of cement.

* Leads to Plastic shrinkage cracks in fresh concrete
* Volume changes and cracking especially in mass concrete
* Spalling and disintegration of concrete at higher temperatures >
250ºC
* Variation in ambient temperature causes secondary stresses in
structures
Alternate wetting and drying
* Causes secondary stresses in the structures
* Accelerates corrosion of steel and
* Chemical attack on concrete

Freezing and Thawing

* Leads to expansion of concrete and cracking
* Ice-melting salts cause erosion of concrete
 Chemical Action

When we are dealing with durability, chemical attack which results in

volume change, cracking and consequent deterioration of concrete
become a major cause of concern

Types of Chemical attack

* Sulfate attack
* Alkali aggregate reaction
* Chloride ion attack - Corrosion
*Carbonation
*Acid Attack
* Effect on concrete in Seawater
 Sulfate attack
* Sulfate attack denotes an increase in the volume of cement paste in
concrete or mortar due to chemical action between the products of
hydration of cement and solution containing sulfate, and also
sodium, magnesium and Cholorides.
* In hardened concrete, calcium aluminate hydrate (C-A-
H) can react with sulphate salt from outside, product of reaction is
calcium sulphoaluminate, which can cause an increase in volume up
to 227%
* Rate of sulphate attack increases with a saturated sulphate
solution.
* A saturate solution of magnesium sulfate can cause serious
damage to concrete with high w/c ratio.
Methods of controlling sulfate attack

a)Use SRC(sulfate resisting cement)

b)Quality concrete - low w/c ratio, well designed and compacted
dense concrete
c)Use of air-entrainment
d)Use of pozzolana
e)High pressure steam curing
f)Use of high alumina cement
 Alkali - Aggregate Reaction
* Alkali from cement, reacts with reactive silica (of aggregates) to form alkali-
silica gel of unlimited swelling type.
* The continuous growth of silica gel exerts osmotic pressure within the
concrete.
* This manifests into cracking and bulging of concrete
Occurrence is due to :
* High alkali content in cement (more than 0.6%)
* Reactive silica in aggregate
* Availability of moisture
 Remedial Measures:
1) Use non-reactive aggregates from
alternate sources

2) Use low-alkali cement

3) Reduce cement content in concrete

4) Use of pozzolana, slag or silica fume

5) Control on service condition, limiting

degree of saturation of concrete
 Chlorides in Concrete
* Chlorides in concrete increases risk of corrosion of
steel (Electrochemical reaction) (IS 456:2000)
* Higher Chloride content or exposure to warm moist
conditions increase the risk of corrosion
* To minimize the chances of corrosion, the levels of
chlorides in concrete should be limited
* Total amount of chloride content (as Cl) in concrete at
the time of placing is provided by IS 456:2000
 Carbonation of Concrete
* Mechanism : Carbon dioxide from the air reacts with calcium
hydroxide to form calcium carbonates
* In the presence of moisture, carbonic acid is formed which reduces
the alkalinity of concrete
* pH value of concrete reduces from 12.5 to 9, thus destroying the
protective layer and exposing the steel to corrosion
* Rate of Carbonation depends upon relative humidity, grade of
concrete, permeability of concrete, depth of cover and time
* Nearly 1 mm carbonation is reported per year in normally M-20
grade of concrete
When the concrete is sprayed with phenolphthalein.
Pink color indicates that concrete is unaffected by carbonation.
The uncolored portion indicates that concrete is carbonated
* Carbonation of concrete is a process by which carbon dioxide
from the air penetrates into concrete and reacts with calcium
hydroxide to form calcium carbonates.

* Protective coating is required to be given for long span bridge

girders, flyovers, Industrial structures and chimneys. Such as
plastic paints (Impermeable)

* Deep cover plays an important role in protecting the steel

from carbonation.
 Acid attack
* Concrete is not fully resistant to acids depending upon the
type and concentration of acid.
* Oxalic acid and phosphoric acids are harmless.
* Concrete can be attacked by liquids with pH value less than
6.5.
* But the attack is severe only at a pH value below 5.5.
* At a pH value below 4.5, the attack is very severe.
* Cement compounds are eventually broken down and leached
away.
* If acids are able to reach the reinforcing steel through cracks
corrosion can occur leading to further cracking
 Methods of Controlling Corrosion
* Limit the chlorides in water, cement, super plasticizers, etc
to acceptable levels
* Provide proper cover as per IS norms
* Concrete should be properly compacted
* Make dense, impermeable / waterproof concrete
* Have protective coatings wherever suitable
* Ensure proper & timely maintenance of structures
 Cover to Reinforcement
(IS 456 – 2000)
Exposure Min Nominal
Condition cover (mm)

Mild 20
Moderate 30
Severe 45
Very Severe 50
Extreme 75
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