Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Client brief
including determination of required service life and what
constitutes end of service life
Assess and define exposure
environment
Conceptual and structural design
Define structure/element
criticality and identify durability
critical areas
Can design be altered to
eliminate potential durability
problems for critical elements
(including use of design-out)?
Ye s
Modify design
No
Select concrete parameters
(including cover) appropriate for
environment using
Codes/Standards or experience
Select new
parameters and
consider further
protection strategies
(including planned
maintenance and
repair and multi-layer
protection)
Predict element service life
using guidance, modelling,
performance testing, etc.
Is predicated life less than
required service life or is risk of
durability failure unacceptable?
Ye s
No
No
Ye s
Can design be modified
to make required
change to predicted
service life?
Are quality issues (workmanship,
materials etc) uncertain or
potentially problematic?
Ye s
No
Does predicted service life
significantly exceed required
service life?
Ye s
No
Ye s
Conduct whole life
cost assessment
and select most
cost effective
option
List optional design
strategies plus
repair maintenance
strategies
Can/must
structural aspects
of design be
revised?
No
Apply
assessment/monitoring
procedures, best
practice and
workmanship issues,
inspection etc
Conduct (ongoing)
durability assessments on
actual structure after
durability reference period,
or analyse monitoring data
to confirm properties
match those expected
Conduct
trial
castings
Note: The flowchart shown here is simplified. The service life design procedure is likely to be iterative, or with steps conducted in parallel
Figure 5.17
The main steps in a service life design procedure for a concrete structure (Quillin, 2001). Courtesy of BRE
