N°183. Durable Concrete Structures - CEB Design Guide
Concern in recent years over the occasionally inadequate durability of concrete structures has led to intensified research into the causes and nature of degradation processes, and to the development of general strategies for handling such situations . Since the late l970s the CEB has been active in solving the technical aspects of premature degradation of concrete structures. This Design Guide has been prepared by the General Task Group No. 20: Durability and Service Life of Concrete Structures.
The Guide is a synthesis of four previous works by the Group: a State of the Art Report, presented in 1982 as CEB Bulletin No. 148; 1 the international workshop on the subject organised in Copenhagen in 1983 in co-operation with RILEM;2 the Draft CEB Guide to Durable Concrete Structures;3 and the second international workshop organised in cooperation with RILEM in Bologna in 1986.4 Valuable comments have been received on the Draft CEB Guide3 from technical organisations, national delegations and individuals . The Task Group has considered in detail all comments and proposals received, and the results have been incorporated in this Design Guide.
The Guide is intended for practising engineers rather than materials specialists. lt presents simplified models of degradation mechanisms and influencing factors. However, these models are believed to be consistent with present-day knowledge of the complicated physico-chemical mechanisms deterrnining the intensity of degrading actions and resulting deterioration mechanisms in concrete structures.
The members of the Task Group are all cordially thanked for their many valuable contributions during the preparation of this Guide, and for their continuous enthusiasm, which has been of mutual inspiration for the work.
