Durability and service life of concrete structures

Abstract

The results of the present project aim to contribute to the technical society, mostly the Brazilian, and to other countries with similar climatic conditions. The procedures and conclusions of this research mar give bases to the inspection and diagnosis of concrete structures in a durability approach, such as studies to evaluate and the creation of models to predict service life, which could be used to elaborate some standards about project and construction of new structures, as well of the rehabilitation of existing structures. It will be included in that research, evaluation and development of alternatives systems and repair materials, which could be used by the technical society with an increase of durability achieved by correction interventions of damaged concrete structures. Developments: promote inter-laboratory and intra-laboratory programs studying field techniques that can determine parameters needed by service life models used to design concrete structures; evaluate environmental parameters influence upon the deterioration of concrete structures by studying existent structures and specimens exposed to natural ageing; compare parameters obtained in field structures with that obtained by stations of natural aging. Evaluate and identify, using the ASTM C 632 standard, potential relationships between accelerated tests and natural ageing, which in an important tool to estimate structure's service life; evaluate the efficiency of several repair materials and systems and characterize them; research, develop and evaluate techniques used for inspection, diagnose and repair of corroded concrete structures. Products - Standard procedures for durability tests applied to concrete structures and its materials - Papers in magazines recognized by the Science Citation Index and by academic and scientific journals. Also publishing papers and articles on typical technical magazines used to transfer technology from academic to technical and industry community; - presentation and publication of papers in national and international congress; - scientific initiation, masters and PhDs dissertations; technology transference to technical community through courses and events; - increase exchange between national and international groups that work with this subject. (AU)