The development of performance-based durability tables for reinforced concrete in the marine environment

Author(s): J. C. Knights
Paper category: Workshop
Book title: RILEM International workshop on performance-based specification and control of concrete durability
Editor(s): D. Bjegović, H. Beushausen, M. Serdar
ISBN: 978-2-35158-135-3
e-ISBN: 978-2-35158-136-0
Pages: 317 - 323
Total Pages: 7
Language: English

Abstract: 
The British Standard Code of Practice for Marine Structures (BS 6349-1:2000) is being updated by BSI Committee CB 502. The recently published BS 6349-1-4 now forms the “Materials” section of the Code which contains, most significantly, a fully revised means of determining the design for durability of reinforced concrete structures exposed to marine conditions.
Current standards for concrete durability provide prescriptive guidance based on a “deemed to satisfy” approach, where there is no indication of the failure state of the structure at the end of service life (i.e. its limit state). Moreover, they do not differentiate performance between levels of cement replacement, and rely on cement designations to define durability.
This paper discusses the processes behind the revised durability tables in BS 6349-1-4 developed by the author; utilising analytical modelling tools to arrive at an improved range of prescriptive guidance on durability for reinforced concrete in the maritime environment. The work defines a more quantifiable means of assessing durability based on a more realistic interpretation of the performance of concretes containing different levels of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs). The outcome of the analysis provides a range minimum cover values for different concrete types based on the four exposure classes and three service lives. The work aims to improve cognisance in this area by incorporating both a serviceability limit state and an optimisation of cement blends into prescriptive durability designs.

Online publication: 2013
Publication Type: full_text
Public price (Euros): 0.00