RILEM WEBINAR: Concrete patch repairs – so simple and yet so difficult

We are pleased to announce that the next ROC&TOK webinar will take place on  February 1st , 2024 at 3PM CEST/Paris Time and will be one hour long (30-minute presentation + 30-minute interaction). The registration for this webinar is free.

Speaker: Prof. Hans Beushausen, University of Cape Town, South Africa
 
Hosts: Dr. Prannoy Suraneni, University of Miami, United States and Prof. Karen Scrivener, EPFL, Switzerland

Title : Concrete patch repairs – so simple and yet so difficult

Due to the growing need for repair and rehabilitation of existing civil and urban infrastructure, concrete repair has developed into a structural engineering discipline with ever-increasing significance. However, tertiary education on forensic engineering and repair technology as well as implementation of durable concrete repairs have not kept up with these developments, with many repairs failing prematurely due to inadequate design or workmanship on site.
Despite the popularity of concrete patch repairs as a ‘simple’ technique to reinstate the structural capacity and durability of reinforced concrete structures, limited understanding on material properties pertinent to successful and durable repairs prevails. This is partially owed to existing standards and guidelines for concrete repair, which commonly specify arbitrary limits for patch repair material properties. In the case of structural patch repairs, these arbitrary limits have led to the development of high-strength cementitious repair mortars, often marketed as “high-performance”, that are tailored to meet the specifications and not the needs on-site. What is therefore required are rational performance criteria for concrete patch repairs, coupled with suitable associated material properties.
Based on various research projects, case studies and common sense, this presentation highlights misconceptions around structural and non-structural concrete patch repairs. Suitable repair material properties for improved performance, cost-effectiveness and sustainability are discussed.