Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a new approach that enables the service life of reinforced concrete to be predicted based on weather conditions.
Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a new approach that enables the service life of reinforced concrete to be predicted based on weather conditions. This could enable engineers to use low-carbon concrete more widely without creating tomorrow’s maintenance problems.
It is hard to imagine the modern world without concrete. Enormous quantities are used in construction worldwide, and the production of cement – its main ingredient – generates a great deal of CO₂, a greenhouse gas that accelerates climate change. Lower carbon cements are therefore a key factor in more climate-friendly construction.
However, this type of concrete often carbonates more quickly than conventional concrete: CO₂ from the air penetrates the concrete and alters its chemical composition. As a result, the steel inside, which contributes significantly to the load-bearing capacity of the structure, can begin to rust.
For this reason, today’s building standards aim to protect the steel from corrosion for as long as possible. However, this approach puts modern, environmentally friendly types of concrete at a disadvantage compared with traditional concrete, which hinders their adoption in practice. Researchers consider the current approach taken by the standards too narrow: according to Cristhiana Albert of the Institute of Building Materials at ETH Zurich, what really matters is how quickly the steel actually rusts afterwards.
Read More: ETH Zurich
Image: How long reinforced concrete lasts depends on the material as well as the local climate. ETH researchers aim to predict this influence more accurately in future. (Credit: Ueli Angst / ETH Zürich)
