EVALUATION AND

RETROFITTING OF BUILDING
(CE-615)

Lecture-1-2
 Proposed Syllabus:
1. Deterioration of concrete buildings, embedded metal corrosion,
disintegration mechanisms, moisture effects, thermal effects,
structural effects, faulty construction.
2. Evaluation of concrete buildings, visual investigation, destructive
testing systems, non-destructive testing techniques, semi-
destructive testing techniques, chemical testing.
3. Structural health monitoring, vibration based monitoring
technique, smart materials and sensors.
4. Surface repair and retrofitting techniques, strategy & design,
selection of repair materials, surface preparation, bonding repair
materials to existing concrete, placement methods.
5. Strengthening techniques, strengthening techniques, beam shear
capacity strengthening, shear transfer strengthening between
members, column strengthening, flexural strengthening, and
crack stabilization.
6. Seismic rehabilitation of existing buildings, seismic vulnerability
and strategies for seismic retrofit.
 Reference Material

Emmons, P.H., Concrete Repair and Maintenance Illustrated,

Galgotia Publications Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi.
Bungey, S, Lillard, G. and Grantham M.G., Testing of Concrete in
Structures, 4th Edition, Taylor and Francis, London.
Malhotra, V.M. and Carino, N.J., Handbook on Non-destructive
testing of concrete, 2nd Edition, Taylor and Francis.
Bohni, H., Corrosion in Concrete Structures, Taylor and Francis.
Handbook on Repair and Rehabilitation of RCC Buildings, CPWD,
New Delhi.
Concrete Repair Guide, ACI 546R-04, ACI Practice Manual.
INTRODUCTION
 Definitions
1. REPAIR: It is the operation in which damage due to deterioration and
cracking is corrected to restore the original structural shape. The
repair does not change the structural function.

1. RETROFITTING/REHABILITATION/STABILIZATION/STRENGHENING:
The operation, which is necessary to strengthen the structural
capacity of members whose load carrying capacity is either
inadequate or whose strength has been severely impaired due to
sustained damage. It includes the process of modifying a structure to
a desired useful condition.
 Introduction

Effect Cause

Concrete does not always

Leakage Design behave as we would like;
Defect
Materials some of the undesirable
Settlement Construction behaviour can be seen as
disintegration, spalling,
Deflection
cracking, leakage, wear,
Overloading
Wear deflection or settlement.
Chemical Spill
Damage
Earthquake
Developing effective repair
Spalling
Fire strategies requires an
Disintegration understanding of what
caused the undesirable
Cracking Freeze-Thaw
behaviour.
Deterioration Erosion
Delamination Corrosion of
Metals
Scaling Alkali-Aggregate
Reaction
Sulfate Attack
 An Overview of Present Repair Practices
The gap between the quality planned and quality achieved is
becoming wider.
The factors contributing to distress in buildings have become
intrinsic right from the construction stage.
Construction instructions and specifications are over looked.
Standard cube test results are taken as the measure of quality?
The procedures for periodic inspection, maintenance of
buildings/structures and documents for defects are not followed
and maintained.
Less experienced Engineers in this area.
Sights of water stagnation, peeling of paints, plaster-break off,
fungus growth, cracks etc. are common.
Repairs carried out normally without understanding the cause-effect
phenomenon.
 Distress-Identification
Before attempting any repair procedure is necessary to have a
planned approach to investigate the condition of concrete and
reinforcement.
A thorough understanding of the behaviour of structural component
to be repaired is necessary.
A technical inspection, mapping of distressed/damaged areas and
documentation of type and location of symptoms are required.
A comprehensive inspection data helps in making an effective
strategy for repair and rehabilitation.
Non Destructive Evaluation may also be required.
A certain level of experience and understanding of limitations of
various methods of Non Destructive Evaluation is required.
 Repair Management
Three stages of Repair management.
First stage involves documentation of damage, its type and extent,
prognosis of repaired structure and recommendations on repair
methodology.
The second stage involves preparation of detailed drawings,
execution guidelines, material and work specifications and tender
document.
Third stage is actual execution of repairs.
Supervising Engineer should have a good understanding of the
subject.
Selection of appropriate material and methodology of repair is
important.
The owners, engineers, material suppliers and contractors all need
to understand the basics of each discipline represented in the repair
process.
Deterioration
of Concrete
 Introduction

Effect Cause

Leakage Design
Defect It has been observed that RCC
Materials has not proved to be durable
Settlement Construction due to large number of factors.

Deflection All concrete in service will be

Overloading subjected to chemical and
Wear
Chemical Spill physical changes.
Damage
Earthquake
Spalling In almost all the field problems
Fire
penetration of water and/or
Disintegration aggressive chemicals during
service life of structures, is the
Cracking Freeze-Thaw
primary cause of deterioration.
Deterioration Erosion
Delamination Corrosion of
Metals
Scaling Alkali-Aggregate
Reaction
Sulfate Attack
Fig. (a) Porous but impermeable concrete, (b) Porous but permeable concrete

A well constituted, properly compacted, and cured concrete used in RCC continues
to be substantially water tight and durable as long as capillary pores and micro-cracks
in the interior do not become interconnected pathways leading to surface of concrete.
 Deterioration of Concrete

The general approach for durability is to demand impermeability

of concrete as the first line of defence against any of the
deterioration process.

It is difficult to generalize the causes of deterioration due to

interacting nature of various degradation mechanisms. However,
they can be grouped into chemical and physical attacks.

The microstructure of concrete material is continuously changing

in response to penetration of water, carbon dioxide, oxygen and
aggressive ions at a rate, which is influenced by local conditions
of temperature, humidity and pressure.
Concrete Deterioration
Concrete Deterioration
 Holistic Models of Deterioration of RCC
Model-I

In this holistic model of deterioration of concrete, the deterioration

process is considered in two stages:

During the first stage, due to loading and environmental weathering

effects the voids and micro-cracks in the interfacial zones become
interlinked. When the interlinked network of micro-cracks gets
connected to any cracks present on the surface, this provides primary
mechanism of fluid transport into the concrete.

The above leads to the beginning of second stage of deterioration

during which water and chemicals are able to penetrate easily into
concrete. This causes various physical-chemical interactions as a result
of which, the material eventually undergoes considerable damage.
Holistic Model I of concrete Deterioration from Environmental Effects
 Holistic Model-II

According to this model, there are three stages, namely (i) Gradual loss of
water tightness, (ii) Initiation of damage and (iii) Propagation of damage.
 Holistic Model-III

This model considers the co-existence of following three main elements: (i)
Interconnected porosity, (ii) Exposure to aggressive agents and (iii) Intermittent
presence of water.

In the absence of any of three elements, damage to RCC will not occur.
 Permeability of Concrete

Permeability of Concrete is related to:

Permeability of cement paste is a

function of water-cement ratio.
 Capillary Porosity
Portland cement requires about 0.23 W/c ratio for hydration. However,
for achieving desired workability, excess water is required. This extra
water after completion of hydration leaves pores, called capillaries in
hardened concrete.

Changes in Capillary
Porosity with varying
Degree of hydration.
 Capillary Porosity

Changes in capillary
Porosity with varying
w/c ratio.

As the w/c ratio increases beyond the minimum required, there is more
capillary porosity.
 Capillary Porosity

Curing time required for various w/c ratios Typical reduction in permeability of cement
paste with progress of hydration

In a well constituted, adequately compacted and cured concrete with low water-
cement
Ratio, volume of capillary pores gets reduced and become discontinuous due to
Expansive hydrated gel, which significantly reduces the permeability.