THE STATE OF CONCRETE IN THE DAM OF A HYDROPOWER PLANT IN A COLD REGION

摘要

The paper describes the results of an inspection of concrete in the dam of the Irkutsk Hydropower Plant built on the Angara river in East Siberia, in a cold region. The structure has been in use for about 40 years. Data on the degree of damage to the concrete caused by the corrosive environment are given. The impacts of freezing and thawing cycles, of mechanical effects of ice, of leaching of lime from concrete by water containing a small amount of salts, of concrete carbonation, and of corroded steel are discussed. The frost action of the environment is shown to be the main destructive factor. The thickness of the layer affected by the frost action is used as a basis for a method of determining the strength of concrete.