Technical Presentation to ORC Maintenance Management And Rehabilitation of Reinforced Concrete Structures

By Tony Carpenter, B.Eng, C.Eng, MIStructE. Regional Manager

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

Internal Cracking and Spalling

Electro-Chemical Deterioration

External Cracking and Spalling

Electro-Chemical Deterioration

Deterioration of Bridge Structure

Corrosion

Chemical corrosion

Electrochemical corrosion

Attack of gasses

Attack of non-electrolytes e.g. oils

Micro-electrolytic corrosion

Macro-electrolytic corrosion

Anodic and Cathodic areas wich cannot be separated

Separate Anodic and Cathodic areas

Atmospherically exposed steel structures (air and water)

Submerged og cast in items in water, soil or concrete

Micro-electrolytic Corrosion

Macro-electrolytic Corrosion

CO2

CO2

CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2

ClCl-

Cl-

ClClClCl-

CO2

CO2

CO2

CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2

Cl-

Cl-

ClClCl-

CO2

Cl-

Cl-

CO2

CO2

CO2 CO2 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

Transport Mechanisms
Concrete contaminated during construction Capillary Action Permeation Diffusion

Osmosis (coatings)

Transport Mechanisms
C O LU M N

EVA PO R A TIO N O F M O ISTU R E O N LY

EVA PO R A TIO N O F M O ISTU R E O N LY G F SLA B

M O ISTU R E M O VEM EN T D IFFU SIO N D IFFU SIO N FO O TIN G

D IFFU SIO N GWL C A PILLA R Y B LIN D IN G C O N C R ETE

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

BASEM ENT W ALL

SEEPAGE

B L IN D IN G CONCRETE

Service Life
Age of Structure
Initiation Phase Propagation Phase

Acceptable Limit

Technical Service life

Damage

Achieving Service Life

Design Materials

Workmanship
Preventive Maintenance

Repairs/Rehabilitation
Substantial Reconstruction

The Law of Fives (de Sitter)

Age of Structure
A B C D

Service Life Curve

Acceptable Limit

Technical Service life

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

Time For Intervention

CRITICALITY CODE DAMAGE CODE 1 2 3 4 DETERMINING FACTOR

1 2

C*

D* D*

Life/Welfare, Capital loss Interruption of operation

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

Recommendations Strategies and Concepts For Remedial Works

Other Important Factors

Operational Constraints - Special Temporary supports required for structure - Plant and equipment cannot be relocated, diverted or decommissioned

Thank You for Your Attention