Required in stage
First term
Second term
Both terms
Not organised
This year
Next year
Alternating years
External
Prerequisites
Taught by
Language of instruction
Duration
Identical coursesAims
Concrete has proven itself as a durable construction material. However, the intended service life of a reinforced concrete structure can be greatly compromised by several deterioration processes of concrete over a specified period of time under the influence of the exposed environmental actions. This course will teach the students fundamental principles of concrete deterioration and durability, and how these are integrated in the framework for durability design of concrete structures. The focus is laid on the major degradation phenomena of reinforced concrete, techniques used for their diagnosis, and strategies to improve durability and service life of concrete structures. Fundamental concepts, approaches and requirements for durability in design codes for concrete structures are also introduced.
After successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- describe durability principles and basic deterioration processes of reinforced concrete
- apply these durability principles to formulate strategies to improve concrete durability
- describe methods to diagnose concrete degradation
- develop skills to undertake inspection for durability analysis and material assessment in a concrete structure
- explain current approaches and codes for durability design of concrete structures
- gain durability awareness and concepts to implement in structural design and management
Previous knowledge
Students should have a basic knowledge of mathematics, mechanics, chemistry and concrete technology.
Order of Enrolment
Mixed prerequisite:
You may only take this course if you comply with the prerequisites. Prerequisites can be strict or flexible, or can imply simultaneity. A degree level can be also be a prerequisite.
Explanation:
STRICT: You may only take this course if you have passed or applied tolerance for the courses for which this condition is set.
FLEXIBLE: You may only take this course if you have previously taken the courses for which this condition is set.
SIMULTANEOUS: You may only take this course if you also take the courses for which this condition is set (or have taken them previously).
DEGREE: You may only take this course if you have obtained this degree level.
FLEXIBLE(H03P7A)
The codes of the course units mentioned above correspond to the following course descriptions:
H03P7A : Constructiecomponenten: gewapend beton, deel 1
Is included in these courses of study
- Master in de ingenieurswetenschappen: architectuur (Leuven) 120 ects.
- Courses for Exchange Students Faculty of Engineering Science (Leuven)
- Master of Civil Engineering (Leuven) (Structural Engineering) 120 ects.
- Master in de ingenieurswetenschappen: bouwkunde (Leuven) (Structurele ingenieurskunde (geen nieuwe inschrijvingen vanaf academiejaar 2024-2025)) 120 ects.
Activities
2.5 ects. Durability of Concrete Structures: Lectures (B-KUL-H0P90a)
Content
This course introduces the basic properties related to the deterioration processes followed by some fundamental relationships among the different properties of concrete. Since deterioration depends on both the material properties and the environmental actions, the material properties of reinforced concrete as the central parameters for the durability performance are discussed first as the:
- chemical properties including chemical and mineral composition (e.g., CH, C‐S‐H contents) of concrete and the electrochemical properties of reinforcement steel (e.g., corrosion resistance)
- microstructure and related properties including the pore structure of concrete, the pore‐structure‐related properties of concrete and the characteristics of the concrete–steel interface
- transport properties involving permeability of fluids and diffusivity of moisture and ions in concrete as a porous medium
- mechanical properties involving fracture resistance or cracking strength of concrete which is related to the propagation of cracking from initial defects due to mechanical damage.
Major concrete durability issues resulting from exposure to different environments are treated in the next part. Deterioration of concrete under various environmental actions include freeze-thaw, sulfate attack, alkali aggregate reactions, leaching and efflorescence, salt crystallization, carbonation, chloride ingress and reinforcement corrosion. Then, durability test methods for certain deterioration processes and their limitations are discussed. Finally, basic concepts for durability design of concrete structures are introduced including the methods and approaches, durability indicators, design applications, and codes and standards in use.
Course material
Course notes, PowerPoint presentations, readings and other documents available on TOLEDO.
0.5 ects. Durability of Concrete Structures: Assignment (B-KUL-H0N61a)
Content
In this OLA, acquired knowledge and insight are applied to a case study during a site visit to a concrete structure that demonstrates concrete degradation phenomena. Groups of 2 students are requested to perform inspection and analysis of concrete with a written report.
Course material
Course notes, PowerPoint presentations, readings and other documents available on TOLEDO.
Evaluation
Evaluation: Durability of Concrete Structures (B-KUL-H2P90a)
Explanation
The evaluation consists of two parts: 1) written report on a case study (20% of the points); 2) exam (80% of the points)
Information about retaking exams
80% of the points will be given on the exam and the point of the assignment (20% of the points) will remain valid if it exists. If not, assessment will be based only on the exam.