Microbial impact on concrete microstructure of world heritage in Brasilia

Author(s): M.R. Silva, S.M.M. Pinheiro
Paper category: Workshop
Book title: International RILEM Workshop on Performance Based Evaluation and Indicators for Concrete Durability
Editor(s): V. Baroghel-Bouny, C. Andrade, R. Torrent, K. Scrivener
ISBN: 978-2-912143-95-2
Pages: 257 - 265
Total Pages: 9
Language: English

Abstract: 
The conservation of world heritage is very important to pass on the history of each country to generations to come. Brasilia, the capital of Brazil, has a number of monuments in reinforced concrete but many of them are deteriorated.

For an efficient restoration of these monuments it is necessary to know the origin of the mechanisms responsible for material deterioration in order to apply the correct technique and thus obtain the best results.

Many techniques can be used to research the cause of the observed deterioration, therefore studies on materials microstructure is one of the best ways to identify the concrete alteration.

The aim of this paper is to present the study concerning the concrete microstructure of a world heritage located in Brazilia, which was carried out to evaluate the alterations observed, as well as to identify the probable mechanisms responsible for concrete deterioration.

Classical techniques for studying concrete microstructure were applied, emphasizing scanning electron microscopy.

The results obtained made it possible to observe the presence of microorganisms as well as of deterioration products formed through the action of external agents on concrete compounds. Lastly, some comments and the respective conclusions are presented.

Online publication: 2007
Publication Type: full_text
Public price (Euros): 0.00