The coupling effects of environmental and mechanical loadings on durability of concrete

Title: The coupling effects of environmental and mechanical loadings on durability of concrete
Author(s): Y. Xi, A. Ababneh
Paper category : conference
Book title: International Conference on Advances in Concrete and Structures
Editor(s): Ying-shu Yuan, Surendra P. Shah and Heng-lin Lü
Print-ISBN: 2-912143-41-1
e-ISBN: 2351580176
Publisher: RILEM Publications SARL
Publication year: 2003
Pages: 354 - 365
Total Pages: 12
Nb references: 28
Language: English

Abstract: 
The service life of concrete structures cannot be estimated accurately without considering the coupled environmental parameters, because the concrete under service condition is actually under simultaneous actions of temperature, moisture, and various aggressive chemicals, not just any one of them. In this paper, we first review concrete durability with a focus on freeze-thaw damage, shrinkage cracking, and chloride penetration. Almost all types of deterioration of concrete are initiated and controlled by transport properties of the concrete. Therefore, several transport processes in concrete are reviewed and studied in detail, including thermal conduction (related to freeze-thaw damage), moisture transfer (resulting in shrinkage cracking), and chloride penetration into concrete (responsible for steel corrosion in concrete). In addition to the transport processes, damage mechanisms and damage evolution of the distressed concrete under the environmental attaches are described and mathematically modeled. Several experiments were designed and performed especially for studying the coupling effects. The most recent experimental results will be presented, such as the effect of moisture diffusion on chloride penetration, the effect of chloride penetration on moisture diffusion, and the effect of freeze-thaw on chloride penetration. Based on the test data, several materials parameters for the coupling effects can be determined and upon which, theoretical models can be developed.

Online publication: 2003-08-10
Publication type : full_text
Public price (Euros): 0.00