Causes of Deterioration in Reinforced Concrete Structures and Methods of Strengthening

Introduction:

Modern methods of repair enable the elimination of the effects of structural deterioration and strengthening in accordance with new requirements. A course in deterioration and strengthening techniques relevant to reinforced concrete structures is critical in times of architectural safety, building height increases, and changes to the primary concept of the building, including rehabilitation of buildings that were poorly constructed for their primary use.

The training will provide essential content required for integrated technical reports focused on participants’ visual inspections, discussions, and evaluations in the field to assess the health of reinforced concrete structures, as well as in the laboratory.

Participants will gain access to scientific and technical information concerning modern and new strengthening technologies and materials, including:

• Concrete admixtures
• Polymer concrete
• Fiber reinforced polymers
• Ferrocement
• Self-compacting concrete
• Ultra-high-strength concrete

The course will also cover general parameters and standards for professional performance in the reliability and durability of reinforced concrete structural systems. Throughout the training, audiovisual materials such as CDs, transparencies, and videos will be used extensively.

Objectives:

At the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Recognize common factors that cause wear and tear in reinforced concrete structures.
• Appreciate the environmental aspects that weaken or destroy concrete.
• Assess the consequences of chemical attacks on concrete structures.
• Identify weaknesses and failure modes of the structures.
• Determine the contribution of design and construction inadequacies to deterioration.
• Familiarize themselves with damage assessment and diagnosis of concrete.
• Investigate intervention methods for the rehabilitation of reinforced concrete.
• Utilize appropriate measures for the repair and upkeep of concrete structures.
• Conduct reviews of concrete strengthening projects, including at least two successful case studies.
• Acquire skills to prevent future deterioration.

Training Methodology:

• Industry experts’ lectures
• Site visits
• Various interactive demonstrations
• Visual materials (videos, slides)
• Quizzes and assessments
• Learning by doing
• Problem-solving

Course Outline:

Unit 1: Development of Reinforced Concrete Structure Concept

• Introduction to the need for adopting new technology in building development.
• Reviewing a new building’s requirements, focusing on the types of reinforced concrete structures (case studies).
• Assessing the evolution of risks to the durability of concrete structures attributed to natural and manmade factors.
• Brief discussion on the design of reinforced concrete structures.

Unit 2: Integrated Technical Reports

• Understanding the contents of integrated technical reports on reinforced concrete structures.
• Presenting illustrated ideal technical reports that effectively address performance and durability.
• Practical examples of building inspections related to corrosion in reinforced concrete structures.

Unit 3: Durability of Buildings

• Application of non-invasive field testing methods for reinforced concrete elements.
• Analysis of parameters influencing operational characteristics, such as corrosion and structural protection.
• Presentation of general maintenance practices focusing on sustained performance.

Unit 4: Repair and Strengthening

• New materials for the repair and strengthening of various types of reinforced concrete structures:
  • Advancements in cement-based materials and admixtures.
  • Increased application of polymer concrete for reinforcement.
  • Applications of fiber reinforced polymers (FRP) as a strengthening technique.
  • Utilizing ferrocement in reinforced concrete structural systems.
  • The phenomenon of self-compacting concrete and its construction applications.
  • The application of ultra-high-strength concrete for enhanced structural performance.
  • Discussion on enforcement of details and codes of practice for concrete methods.

Unit 5: Techniques

• Discussion of strengthening methods, focusing on individual parts of reinforced concrete structural elements:
  • Foundations and their importance in reinforced concrete structures.
  • Strengthening techniques for reinforced concrete frame columns.
  • Innovative strategies for enhancing reinforcing and cantilever slabs.
  • Reinforcing beams as part of design processes.
  • Influence of walls on the stability of reinforced concrete structures and relevance of surveys.
  • Final remarks and discussions on current trends in enhancing concrete structures.