Ageing Infrastructure–Driving Forces and Research Needs

Author(s): K. Van Breugel
Paper category: Proceedings
Book title: 3rd International RILEM Conference on Microstructure Related Durability of Cementitious Composites
Editor(s): Changwen Miao, Wei Sun, Jiaping Liu, Huisu Chen, Guang Ye and Klaas van Breugel
Print-ISBN: 978-2-35158-188-9
e-ISBN: 978-2-35158-189-6
Publisher: RILEM Publications SARL
Publication year: 2016
Pages: 58-72
Total Pages : 15
Language : English

Abstract: In industrialized societies the infrastructure for living, mobility, energy and communication makes out about 50% of their national wealth. With elapse of time the performance of this infrastructure is decreasing. Infrastructure ages! Ageing is an inherent feature of materials, structures and systems. Yet it seems a rather new topic in both science and engineering. The main reason why ageing has been under the radar so far is that ageing is generally a slow process, whereas the main interest of most stakeholders is focused on the short-term performance of their products and short-term benefits. Today, however, there is a growing awareness that, particularly in industrialized countries, ageing of our assets is a financial burden for the society. Ageing affects the performance and operationalibility of our infrastructure and jeopardizes a country’s economy. It also significantly affects the environmental footprint of the building industry.
In this contribution the urgency and challenges of ageing of concrete structures are addressed. The complexity of ageing problems in concrete will be evaluated by looking in more detail to the evolution of ageing factors used for quantitative predictions of chloride transport in concrete and self-healing of concrete as a possible answer to ageing. Comments are made on the evolution in concrete mix design and the consequences thereof for the longterm performance of concrete structures. In this evaluation different driving forces contributing to ageing will be identified. The need of research on ageing phenomena will be addressed. Global estimates of the budget for ageing research are made.

Online publication : 2016
Publication type : full_text
Public price (Euros) : 0.00