8) Concrete Durability

CONCRETE DURABILITY
MEAE1113
DURABILITY OF CONCRETE
Important….THINKING…. TO
SOLVE PROBLEM
A
B
BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR CONCRETE
3. DENSE
2. DURABILITY
4. Cement + H2O ---- CSH gel + Ca(OH)2
1. STRENGTH
5. SiO2 + Ca(OH)2 ------ CSH gel
PERMEABILITY
Important Criteria for Durability

B
A
C
Hydration products of cement
Introduction
• For a long time, concrete was very durable material requiring little or no maintenance.
Emphasis was mostly on compressive strength of concrete. However, many
structures world over have shown deterioration during the last 60-70 years. Exposure
conditions also have been found to play a vital role on the durability of concrete.
• One of the main reasons for deterioration of concrete, is the component materials
used in the manufacture of concrete, method of manufacture, placing, compacting, and
curing, environmental conditions, loading patterns, various pollutants like
carbon dioxide, chemicals that have pervaded the environment. Soils and subsoil
water in certain locations have deleterious chemicals and salts which will affect the
durability of concrete.
Durability of Concrete
Durability of concrete is defined as its
ability to resist weathering action,
chemical attack, abrasion, or any other
process of deterioration. Durable
concrete will retain its original form,
quality and serviceability when exposed
to its environment
Causes of Failures
A Study of Contribution Factors to Building Failures and Defects in Construction Industry

Why does this problem happen?
• Concrete should be design to serve its purpose
• Should be durable
• Factors that influence durability can be divided

into:
–the environment and usage factors (outside
control)
–the compositional and production factors
How to DESIGN Durable Concrete???
Workmanship -Water Ponding
Quality -Humidity and Water Leakage
Lack of Maintenance
Soil movement
Construction defect/weakness
Extreme Construction defect/weakness
Concrete Cover
Type of spacer for concrete cover
Cover Thickness
Quality of spacer???
Improper Bar Placement
Highly Congested Reinforcement
Honeycomb
Workability Problem
Segregation
Biological Attack
• Good quality dense concrete is also best defense against the growth of
moulds or plant life.
• The described growth may enter concrete pores and cause surface
disintegration.
Chemical Attack
• A very common type of chemical attack is from sulphates in soil and

groundwater. (This is most important since nearly all structures employ
some concrete below ground level).
• Sulphates react chemically causing expansion and disruption of the

concrete.
• Sea water is another source of chemical attack (sulphates and magnesium)
• Durability should be maximized by choosing a type of cement suitable for

the level of sulphate concentration.
• Also, the concrete is dense so that penetration by groundwater is

minimized.
Factors Affecting Durability
• The environment (Rain, heat, cold,
fire, snow)
• The cover to the embedded steel
• The type and quality of constituent

materials
• The cement content and

water/cement ratio of the concrete
• Workmanship, to obtain full

compaction and efficient curing
• The shape and size of the members
• Permeability, and abrasion

Types of Cement
• Defense for chemical attack should be chemical in nature
• BS 8110: Part 1, recommends in Table 6.1, the type of cement to

use for various concentration of sulphates in soil and groundwater
• OPC and GGBS may be used where sulphate concentrations are

low
• As concentrations are progressively higher, sulphate resisting

Portland cement, super sulphated cement, or high alumina
cement may be used.
Degree of Compaction
• Full compaction is
very important.
• Durability
drastically
reduced if the
concrete contains
air voids.
Water/Cement Ratio
• Concrete mixed with lowest possible w/c ratio and undergone

full compaction will result in a more durable concrete.
• Concrete with no air voids and minimum of pores will give:

–Maximum abrasion resistance
–Will best prevent chemicals being absorbed
–Keep out all water which may freeze and expand
–Provide minimum foothold for organic growths
Curing
• Adequate curing is
essential to ensure that the
concrete will be durable.
Longer curing periods are
necessary in hotter
conditions.
Durability of Reinforced Concrete
• One of the main causes of failure in reinforced concrete is

the corrosion of steel
• Embedded steel rusts, expands and disrupts the concrete
• Natural process of the rusting of steel needs the present of

air and water
• Fortunately, the hydration of cement results in high levels

of alkalinity.
Important Properties of Concrete
• Compressive strength (good with
proper design)
• Durability (good resistance to
weather and aggressive
environment)
• Concrete protect steel (PH 12-13)
• Permeability (need to be less
permeable)
• Abrasion resistance with sufficient
cement content
The concrete therefore provides good
protection if:
• concrete is dense and well compacted
• water/cement ratio should be as low as possible
• adopt minimum cement content specified by the code
• do not use admixture of chloride base. chloride reduce alkalinity and
increases rate of corrosion
• sea-water should not be used for reinforced concrete
• sea-dredged aggregate aggregates should be well washed
• cracking of the concrete must be minimized and controlled by good
mix design and site control of the concrete, and by design and careful
location of the reinforcement.
• concrete cover should be adequate.

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8) Concrete Durability

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CONCRETE DURABILITY

Important Criteria for Durability

A Study of Contribution Factors to Building Failures and Defects in Construction Industry

• Factors that influence durability can be divided

• A very common type of chemical attack is from sulphates in soil and

• Sulphates react chemically causing expansion and disruption of the

• Sea water is another source of chemical attack (sulphates and magnesium)

• Durability should be maximized by choosing a type of cement suitable for

• Also, the concrete is dense so that penetration by groundwater is

• The cover to the embedded steel

• The type and quality of constituent

• The cement content and

• Workmanship, to obtain full

• The shape and size of the members

• Permeability, and abrasion

• BS 8110: Part 1, recommends in Table 6.1, the type of cement to

• OPC and GGBS may be used where sulphate concentrations are

• As concentrations are progressively higher, sulphate resisting

• Concrete mixed with lowest possible w/c ratio and undergone

• Concrete with no air voids and minimum of pores will give:

• One of the main causes of failure in reinforced concrete is

• Embedded steel rusts, expands and disrupts the concrete

• Natural process of the rusting of steel needs the present of

• Fortunately, the hydration of cement results in high levels

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