Long-Term Performance of Concrete Structures in Marine Environment

For concrete structures in marine environments, it is not the disintegration of the concrete itself but rather electrochemical corrosion of embedded steel which poses the most critical and greatest threat to the service life. In such environments, it appears to be just a question of time before detrimental amounts of chlorides will reach embedded steel even through solid covers of high quality concrete. For all port and harbor structures, service life design should be carried out and appropriate programs for life cycle management established. As a basis for such programs, a regular monitoring of chloride penetration in combination with preventive measures is very important.

Keywords:

Concrete structures , marine environment , durability , chloride penetration , steel corrosion , codes and practice , service life design , life cycle management , preventive maintenance