On some microstructural aspects of concrete deterioration

Authors

  • E. A. Draper R. J. Lee Group, Inc., Monroeville, Pennsylvania
  • K. E. Wagner R. J. Lee Group, Inc., Monroeville, Pennsylvania
  • J. Skalny Construction Materials Consultant, Timonium, Maryland

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3989/mc.1993.v43.i232.663

Keywords:

concrete durability, microstructure, electron microscopy, alkali-aggregate reaction, delayed ettringite formation, hiqh-temperature curinq, freezinq and thawinq

Abstract


There are numerous mechanisms that can lead to deterioration of portland-cement concrete in service. The best known are corrosion of reinforcement, freezing-thawing expansion, alkali-silica reaction, acid attack, and sulfate-related problems, including delayed ettringite formation. Additionally, concrete can deteriorate as a consequence of improper processing, including curing. Often, several of the above mechanisms of deterioration are jointly responsible for the observed damage. This paper briefly reviews the light-optical and electronoptical microscopic methods available to study some of the causes of concrete deterioration, and briefly describes selected case studies. Specifically, microstructural features resulting from physical (e.g., freezing-thawing) and chemical (e.g., alkali-silica reaction, delayed ettringite formation) deterioration of concrete are highlighted. Corrosion of reinforcement is not discussed.

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Published

1993-12-30

How to Cite

Draper, E. A., Wagner, K. E., & Skalny, J. (1993). On some microstructural aspects of concrete deterioration. Materiales De Construcción, 43(232), 5–19. https://doi.org/10.3989/mc.1993.v43.i232.663

Issue

Section

Research Articles