Service life of concrete structures rehabilitated with polymers

Abstract

The estimation of the service life of concrete rehabilitation works is more and more important. The rehabilitation techniques appeared as a need to solve problems posed by the degradation of concrete structures. Some years ago the rehabilitation techniques were not developed and it was important to find solutions for the problems. Now, there is more preoccupation with the service life of concrete rehabilitation techniques, like external strengthening with FRP, increase of concrete sections or reinforcement of cracked sections. The increase of the service life started with the quality of the concrete rehabilitation works. This includes the quality of the design, the products and the execution. Some standards are now available and establish specifications for concrete rehabilitation works. This paper presents the main questions related with this subject. The use of polymers in concrete rehabilitation imposes a different analysis related with durability.