Concrete structures repair & Rehabilitation - Causes of Distress & its Solution
Supradip Das, Buildtech Products I Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi
With the development of newer construction material & methodology, the present day concrete is more durable as compared to the early 30s & 40s. It is also well established factor that if the concrete is properly designed, mixed & applied, it can have a longer durability under normal service conditions. With the increase in the construction activities in the last two decades mainly in the building / infrastructure sector, it has been observed that many of the structures are already showing signs of distress. In some cases repair measures become necessary even within a span of 5 to 10 years of completion of structure. Distress happens due to host of factors like poor workmanship, lack of maintenance, atmospheric effects, abuses, accidents, natural calamities. In all the cases, the methodology to be adopted depends on the type of distress and its magnitude. Thus repair and rehabilitation of a concrete structure becomes necessary to extend its life to ensure durability of structure. The rehabilitation envisages restoration of structural system as close as possible to the original position. The distressed structure needs to be brought in line, level and to required strength so that it can be put into service without endangering its safety and utility.
Looking to the magnitude and complexity of the work involved, it appears that the concept of repair and rehabilitation is bound to become an important discipline of the construction industry in time to come.
The article presents various causes & reasons of degradation of concrete & its repairing methods generally being adopted for the building segments.
CONCRETE DEGRADATION may have various causes & reasons. It can be damaged by factors like fire, alkali - aggregate reaction expansion, sea water effects, bacterial corrosion, calcium leaching, physical and chemical damage from carbonation, corrosion of reinforcements & many others. The kinetics of degradation has been discussed below:
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NBM&CW February 2014
