REINFORCING STEEL CORROSION IN HOUSES DUE TO CONCRETE CARBONATION IN URBAN TROPICAL ENVIRONMENTS

摘要

Besides chlorides, concrete carbonation may promote corrosion of the reinforcing steel inrnconcrete. In urban tropical locations, away from the marine environment, carbonation may be the solernresponsible cause of corrosion in reinforced concrete elements. Previous investigations in reinforcedrnconcrete buildings have showed significant concrete carbonation after 20 years of service. As lowerrnmechanical strength is required for concrete elements involved in housing construction than thatrnrequired for concrete buildings, faster carbonation rates are expected in concrete houses than thosernobserved in concrete buildings. This investigation is aimed at the impact of carbonation-inducedrncorrosion of reinforcing concrete elements used in housing construction. Estimates of the length of therncorrosion initiation period based on the measured carbonation coefficients are presented.