Durability design and specification for concrete structures-the way forward

摘要

Much effort has been made in recent years to adopt suitable strategies for durability design of concrete. Most of this work has focused on the development of 'performance specifications' for concrete. However, there are many barriers and limitations to successful implementation of these strategies for early-age control of reinforced concrete durability. This article reviews some of the recent efforts in the implementation of such strategies. It describes the South African approach to durability design, which is based on performance specifications that are to be satisfied at the time of construction. Case studies are presented on approaches to reinforced concrete design and the corresponding application of a durability performance specification, to highlight the potential for adopting a probability-based methodology for durability design. Finally, the paper attempts to provide a way forward towards successful utilization of such approaches, with particular emphasis on the construction industry in India.