Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
1.10 Summary
Reinforced concrete can suffer from a significant number of defects,
although good-quality, properly designed, well-mixed and placed concrete is
normally durable for many years. It is critical, before approaching the repair
of a structure, to understand what has caused the problem and to design a
repair appropriate to that problem. Failure to do so can often result in a
very short-lived repair. This chapter has attempted to introduce something
of the range of different types of defect that can occur and some of the non-
destructive and semi-destructive methods available to determine the causes
of such problems.
People engaging in concrete repair should beware of attempting to
identify the cause of a problem just from its appearance. Laboratory testing
and in particular petrographic examination are almost always essential as
part of the diagnostic process.
Once the problem is understood, an appropriate repair system can be
designed.
