CIVIL ENGINEERING MATERIALS

- CIVE 2319
LEC 5F CONCRETE DURABILITY

Prof Ir Dr Maisarah Ali

Department of Civil Engineering, IIUM
 REFFERENCE
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 Civil Engineering Materials 5th Edition Edited by Neil Jackson

and Ravindra K Dhir
 INTRODUCTION
WHAT IS DURABLE CONCRETE ?
Durable concrete can be defined as one that is
designed, constructed and maintained to perform
satisfactorily in the expected environment for the
specified designed life.
Durability is the ability of concrete to
resist weathering action, chemical attack,
and abrasion while maintaining its desired
engineering properties.
 DEFINITION
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 Different concretes require different degrees

of durability depending on the exposure
environment and the properties desired.
 Concrete ingredients, their proportioning,
interactions between them, placing and curing
practices, and the service environment
determine the ultimate durability and life of
the concrete.
 Durable concrete will retain its original form,
quality and serviceability when exposed to its
environment.
 DURABILITY
A durable concrete is the one which will
withstand in a satisfactory degree, the effects
of service conditions to which it will be
subjected.
Factors Affecting Durability:
 External → Environmental
 Internal → Permeability, Characteristics of
ingredients, Air-Void System...
 FACTORS GOVERNING DURABILITY

1. Mix design – different proporpotion will give diff. strength

and quality
2. Structural design – over design or the very least
3. Reinforcement detailing – prevent from crack etc.
4. Concrete cover – too thin or too thick, water absorption,
cracking/spalling allows water to penetrate
5. Curing – longer curing gives higher strength
6. Supervision – proper workmanship
7. Quality of material used – cement – not lumpy, steel – not
corrode
 WATER/CEMENT RATIO
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What Affects Concrete Strength

What
Doesn’t?
1. Mix design
2. & 3. Structural design & detailing
4. Concrete cover
5. Curing
6. Supervision
CAUSES THAT AFFECTS CONCRETE DURABILITY
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1. Spalling due to corrosion of reinforcement

2. Alkali-aggregate Reaction (AAR)
3. Chemical Attack
4. Surface Deterioration - Abrasion
5. Sulfate Attack
6. Freeze/Thaw Action
7. Carbonation
 Exposure Conditions and Deterioration
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Mechanisms
Durability Aspect/Exposure Mechanism

Alkali-Aggregate Reaction
Alkali-Silica Reaction

Alkali-Carbonate Reaction
Chemical Resistance Sulfates

Seawater Acids
 Exposure Conditions and Deterioration
Mechanisms (cont’d)
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Durability Aspect/Exposure Mechanism

Chloride Resistance

Carbonation
Corrosion of
Reinforcement Corrosion

Freezing and Thawing

Freeze-Thaw
 Exposure Conditions and Deterioration
Mechanisms (cont’d)
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Durability Aspect/Exposure Mechanism

Abrasion

Erosion

Fire Resistance

Miscellaneous
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 ASR EXPANSION MECHANISM
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 Breakdown of the silica structure in the aggregate

by hydroxyl ions.
 Silica becomes available to form AS gel
 When the silica gel comes in contact with water, it
will swells
 Reaction rate depends on:
 Reactivity of silica in aggregate
 Alkali content in cement
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ALKALI SILICA REACTION (ASR)

Influencing Factors
 Reactive forms of silica in
the aggregate,
 High-alkali (pH) pore
solution
 Sufficient moisture
ALKALI SILICA REACTION (ASR)
Typical Indicators:
 Network of cracks
 Closed or spalled joints
 Relative displacements
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 SULFATE ATTACK - PREVENTION

To reduce the sulfate attack

1. Use low w/c ratio→ reduced permeability & porosity
2. Use proper cement → reduced C3A and C3S
3. Use pozzolans → they use up some of the CH to
produce C-S-H
 CARBONATION

 Ca(OH)2 + CO2 → CaCO3 + H2O

 Accompanied by shrinkage → carbonation

shrinkage

 Makes the steel vulnerable to corrosion (due to

reduced alkalinity)
 CORROSION

 Electrochemical reactions in the steel rebars of a R/C

structure results in corrosion products which have larger
volumes than original steel.

 Thus this volume expansion causes cracks in R/C. In fact,

steel is protected by a thin film provided by concrete
against corrosion. However, that shield is broken by
CO2 of air or the Cl- ions.
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THANK YOU!!