Description
Understanding chemical attacks and permeation properties of concrete – key to achieve durability
of concrete structures in the Middle East
Abstract:
‘Durability is the ability of concrete to withstand the damaging effects of the environment and of its
service conditions until it reaches a minimum level of performance’. However, in order to achieve
this ability concrete needs to enhance its permeation properties, because most of the damaging
effects of the environment are due to the chemical attacks to the concrete. Corrosion of steel due to
the ingress of chloride and carbonation, sulfate attacks, delayed ettringite formation, salt
weathering, acid attack and multi aggressive sea water attacks are the most notable chemical
attacks concrete structures in the Middle East are subjected to. Very high summer ambient
temperature and extremely aggressive underground soil and water especially along the coastal
region of the Arabian Peninsula have made these chemical attacks even more severe. The only
common factor of these chemical attack is water, as presence of water is the main requirement in
order to the devastating effect of these chemical attacks to take place. Enhancement of the
permeation properties of concrete would significantly minimize the presence of moisture, therefore
effectively reduce the impact of the chemical attack. It is important to understand the mechanism of
the permeation properties of concrete such as permeability, absorption and diffusion and the basic
chemistry of the chemical attacks in order to achieve the required durability of concrete structure in
the Middle East.
Author: Abu Saleh Mohammod PhD, MSc, MICT
General Manager, Pudlo Middle East Building Materials LLC
abu.saleh@pudlo.com