Performance-based specification and control of durability of reinforced concrete structures

Title: Performance-based specification and control of durability of reinforced concrete structures
Author(s): H.D. Beushausen, M.G. Alexander, R. Torrent
Paper category : conference
Book title: RILEM Symposium on On Site Assessment of Concrete, Masonry and Timber Structures - SACoMaTiS 2008
Editor(s): L. Binda, M. di Prisco, R. Felicetti
Print-ISBN: 978-2-35158-061-5
e-ISBN: 978-2-35158-075-2
Publisher: RILEM Publications SARL
Publication year: 2008
Pages: 319 - 324
Total Pages: 6
Nb references: 17
Language: English

Abstract: Service life and durability of reinforced concrete structures depend primarily on the penetrability and thickness of the concrete cover. Currently, durability specifications in most Codes and Standards are based mainly on establishing constraints to the proportions of the concrete as function of the severity of the exposure. This approach ignores, to a large extent, the different performance of the different cement types and of the mineral components added to the cements or to the concrete itself, as well as the influences of on-site practice during the construction process.
Previous work of RILEM TCs has identified suitable test methods to measure the penetrability of the concrete cover, concluding that today there are several suitable devices on the market, with which site measurements (non-destructively or applied on drilled cores) of the penetrability and thickness of the concrete cover can be performed with sufficient accuracy. Based on this, the paper introduces a proposal for future work aiming at developing guidelines on how to apply those methods in practice for the performance-based specification of durability and for checking the compliance of the final product with the specification.

Online publication: 2009-05-26
Publication type : full_text
Public price (Euros): 0.00