By Tony Carpenter
Introduction
All Elements and Materials Deteriorate
For structures it is important to define at the outset the required useful life expectancy. We term life expectancy Service Life
Physical Deterioration
Fire Damage
Over Loading by tenants/occupier Thermal Expansion and Contraction Impact Damage and Abuse
Chemical Deterioration
Sulphate Attack
Alkali-Aggregate Reactions Chemical Spillage
Electro-Chemical Deterioration
Corrosion or rusting of steel reinforcement, having been depassivated either by Carbonation or Chloride contamination of surrounding concrete, or a combination of the two.
Chloride Induced Electro-chemical deterioration is generally the most common form of reinforced concrete deterioration experienced in the Gulf.
Electro-Chemical Deterioration
Electro-Chemical Deterioration
Electro-Chemical Deterioration
Transport Mechanisms
Concrete contaminated during construction Capillary Action Permeation Diffusion
Osmosis (coatings)
Transport Mechanisms
C O LU M N
Transport Mechanisms
E V A P O R A T IO N O F M O IS T U R E O N L Y
GL
D IF F U S IO N
C A P IL L A R Y / M O IS T U R E MOVEMENT E V A P O R A T IO N O F M O IS T U R E O N L Y
GWL
SEEPAGE
B L IN D IN G CONCRETE
Service Life
Age of Structure
Initiation Phase Propagation Phase
Acceptable Limit
Damage
Workmanship
Preventive Maintenance
Repairs/Rehabilitation
Substantial Reconstruction
Acceptable Limit
Damage
Existing Structures
Existing structures are principally within: Phase B Phase C Phase D
Existing Structures
Age of many concrete structure means owners becoming faced with rapidly increasing maintenance/rehabilitation costs as deterioration move to phase D. Why?
Lack of trained civil maintenance staff Low priority given to civil works No real appreciation of condition and consequences of not taking action No medium term planning
Actions to be Taken
Adopt same attitude to civil works as applied to plant! Develop maintenance programme for reinforced concrete structures
Advantages/Benefits
Budgets planned well in advance Human resources efficiently managed Operations planned to minimise disruption of users Extends service life of structure Maintains capital investment
Maintenance Management
Start with Investigation of Structures Archive search Site investigation - Visual inspection - Sampling and testing Assessment and Recommendations Prioritise rehabilitation activities
1 2
C*
D* D*
A/B B/C C*
3
4
B/C C* D* D*
E* E* E* E*
Maintenance inconvenience
Cost effectiveness
A Immediate Action D < 6 years B < 1 year E at failure C < 3 years * Based on regular inspection and monitoring
Operational Constraints - Special Temporary supports required for structure - Plant and equipment cannot be relocated, diverted or decommissioned
Corrosion
Corrosion
Chemical corrosion
Electrochemical corrosion
Attack of gasses
Micro-electrolytic corrosion
Macro-electrolytic corrosion
Micro-electrolytic corrosion
Macro-electrolytic corrosion
CO2
CO2
ClCl-
Cl-
ClClClCl-
CO2
CO2
CO2
Cl-
Cl-
ClClCl-
CO2
Cl-
Cl-
CO2
CO2
ClCl-
Cl-
ClClClCl-
CO2
Fe++
2e-
O2 H2O 2Fe
O2
O2
H2O
4e- + O2 + 2H2O Cathode 2Fe++ + 4(OH)4(OH)-
2Fe++ + 4e-
Anode
2Fe + O2 + 2H2O
Fe
FeO Fe3O4
Fe2O3
Fe(OH)2 Fe(OH)3
Fe(OH)3, 3H2O
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Volume
Local Repair
Rectifier +
Anode
Cathode
Rectifier +
ClOHOH-
OH-
OHOH- OH-
ClAnode
OHOHOHOHOH-
ClOHOHOHClOH-
ClOH-
Cathode
OHOH-
Cl-
Cl-
Advantages
Only method to prevent/stop chloride initiated corrosion of black steel Chloride content in the concrete is not essential Extends service life considerably on patch-repaired structures Condition of structures can be monitored instantly Require specialised contractor Extensive supervision is needed during installation Regular Performance Verification is indispensable
Disadvantages