Concrete Repair Durability

Materials (Basel). 2020 Oct 13;13(20):E4535. doi: 10.3390/ma13204535.

Abstract

The repairs of building structures are inevitable and indispensable. Repairs are used to restore or maintain the usability of existing facilities, often contributing to the extension of their expected service life, increasing the sustainability of building resources. Given that conservation rules are observed, repairs are also used to save monuments. The concept of repair durability brings to the foreground the durability of the repaired structure (after repair): what service life has been obtained/recovered as a result of the repair. Based on the available data (limited set), a generalised distribution function of repair durability was developed, with a disappointing course. This, however, applies (necessarily) to the past. Significant progress was shown to have been achieved in the theoretical and technical fundamentals of technical repair measures. In this situation, a prognostic distribution function was also designed for future repairs according to EN 1504. A rule of thumb called estimating concrete repair durability, CRD was proposed. The risk associated with estimating the durability of repairs was indicated. A reason for optimism is that proactive monitoring of the condition of the structure and, consequently, management of the repair strategy allows to reach the designed life of the structure.

Keywords: concrete repair durability; durability determinants; durability estimation; durability management strategy; large-scale durability development; repair cycles; repair durability distribution function; structure durability.