Reducing deterioration and corrosion of reinforcements in transportation structures

Reinforced concrete is unique in that two materials, reinforcing steel and concrete (includes in-situ RC, precast, pre and post stressed) are used together to satisfy the structural integrity design requirements in terms of bending and torsion and allowing flexible design layouts. Many structures in built environment particular in Civil Engineering are built from reinforced concrete: bridges, viaducts, buildings, retaining walls, tunnels, tanks, conduits, airport runways etc. However, these structures are continuously being challenged by aggressive external environments and contamination which there are exposed to, such as salts, carbonation, polluted air and acid rain. Invariably, the structural integrity is compromised through rapid deterioration and allowing the concrete to break down, reinforcements to corrode and costs the operator huge amounts for rectification works and in many instances a complete replacement of the concrete structure. With this background, this paper undertakes a forensic investigation of failure of steel reinforcements particularly within the transportation structures.