Concrete deterioration – manifestations and mechanisms

Concrete is a dynamic material that changes continuously with time. At the same time, it remains exposed to external environment during its service life. As a result, concrete undergoes various types of degradation and deterioration, which can be grouped under four heads: materials, design, environment and loading. Degradation of materials and structure involving different processes such as carbonation, chloride ingress, sulfate attack, alkali aggregate reactions, etc. happen due to ionic and heterogeneous transformations. The repair and remedial measures for deteriorated concrete structures require adequate understanding of the causes and mechanisms of such reactions. This paper attempts to highlight the intricacies of some of these chemical processes.

Author: A.K. Chatterjee

Section: Concrete

Keywords: concrete, corrosion, chemical ingress, destruction