American University in Dubai

A School of Engineering
Infrastructure Sustainability and
Assessment Center

Service Life Assessment of Concrete Structures in the 
GCC Countries
By
Mohamad Nagi
Corrosive Environment
 What is Durability
Durability by definition is the ability of concrete to
resist weathering action, chemical attack, and
abrasion while maintaining its desired engineering
properties
 Degradation Mechanisms
Physical attack
• Salt crystallization
• Freezing-and-thawing attack
• Abrasion, erosion, and
cavitation
• Thermal damage
Chemical attack
• Leaching
• Acid and base attack
• Alkali-silica reactions
• Delayed ettringite formation
• Sulfate attack
• Steel reinforcement corrosion
 Degradation Mechanisms
Physical attack
• Salt crystallization
• Freezing-and-thawing attack
• Abrasion, erosion, and
cavitation
• Thermal damage
Chemical attack
• Leaching
• Acid and base attack
• Alkali-silica reactions
• Delayed ettringite formation
• Sulfate attack
• Steel reinforcement corrosion
 Alkali Silica Reactivity
This is caused by reaction of certain
aggregates with alkali in cement to form
expansive gel that eventually leads to craking
 Sulphate Attack
A reaction between sulphate ions and
calcium hydroxide and form gypsum and
ettringite.

BRE and ACI 201 Classification in UAE

Low w/c ration and use of SCM

 Whatis
What is Corrosion
Corrosion
Deterioration of a material as a result of reaction with
its environment-M.G. Fontana

Destructive attack of a metal by chemical or

electrochemical reaction with its environment-H.H.
Uhling.

Metal corrode because they have a strong driving

force to return to their natural state
 Requirements for Corrosion
Cathode

Anode

Electrolyte

Electrical connection between anode and cathode

Definition of Anode&Cathode

Loss of electrons is
oxidation

Gain of electrons is
reduction
Chloride-Induced Corrosion of Steel in Concrete

Cathode and anode sites co-exist on the Steel

The steel is the conductor, and

Concrete acts as electrolyte

Passivity layer is damaged by chloride ions

 Cl-
O2 H2O
 Cl-
O2 H2O
United Corrosion Technologies ©2010
Why Should We Care About Corrosion
Why Should we Care about Corrosion
Safety

Conservation of Resources

Cost
Cost of Corrosion in the GCC States-2004
Kingdom of Bahrain 0.5 B.

State of Kuwait 2.17 B.

Sultanate of Oman 1.3 B.

State of Qatar 1.1 B.

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 13.0 B.

United Arab Emirates 3.7 B.

 Environment

Depletion of iron ore resources

Concrete carbon foot-print

 Service Life

One Century of Service Life

Is Required???
 Codes are not written for our
environment
40

35

30
Avg Temp (Degrees C)

25

20
UAE
London
15 New York

10

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
 Water Salinity
Ref. King Fahed University of Petroleum and Minerals

Black Med. North Atlantic Arabian Red

Sea Sea Sea Ocean Gulf Sea

Cl- 9,500 21,270 16,550 20,000 36,900 22,660

SO3 1,362 2,596 2,220 2,180 5,120 3,050

 Saline Groundwater
Ref.CONCRETE SOCIETY – CS163 (Guide to the Design of Concrete Structures in the
Arabian Peninsula) table 5 - P. 15

Cl- mg/L SO4- mg/L

2

SITE
in groundwater in groundwater
Burj Khalifa 17-90,000 2800-5900

Emirates Towers 66-81,000 1760-6330

Doha Convention Centre 31,000 4100(max)

Dubai Tower (Qatar) 6,400-30,000 1430-3600

Aweer 9,200 Not Measured

 Service Life
The period of time during which a structure meets or exceeds
the minimum requirements set for it

Requirements limitation can be technical, functional or

economical

Durability
 ASR
 Sulfate attack
 Corrosion
Kyosti Tuuti’s Service Life Model
 Kyosti Tuuti’s Service Life Model
Loss of cross-Section

Concrete Cover
Diffusion Coefficient

Time
 Kyosti Tuuti’s Service Life Model
Loss of cross-Section

Chloride Threshold
Concrete Cover
Diffusion Coefficient

Time
 Kyosti Tuuti’s Service Life Model
Loss of cross-Section

End of Service
Life
Corrosion Rate
(µm/year)

Chloride Threshold
Concrete Cover
Diffusion Coefficient

Time
 Kyosti Tuuti’s Service Life Model
Loss of cross-Section

End of Service
Life
Corrosion Rate
(µm/year)

Chloride Threshold
Concrete Cover
Diffusion Coefficient

Time
 How to Achieve it
Concrete Mix Design

Use of GGBS, Fly ash and Microsilica

Use of corrosion inhibitor and other corrosion

preventive methods.

Construction practice
 Curing, surface protection, curing temperature

QA/QC procedures
Designing Durable Structures

ACI 318
AASHTO
EUROCODE 2
BS 5400
BS 8500
CS 163
Guide to the Design of Concrete
Structures in the Arabian Penn.
Provides Exposure classes relevant
to the region
Categorizes structures as “Normal”
vs. “Special”
 Special Structures

Service Life in excess of 30 years

Exposed to severe environment
Recommends
 Project-Specific Durability Study / Service-Life
Prediction
 Additional Durability Enhancement Methods
 Special Structures

Service Life in excess of 30 years

Exposed to severe environment
Recommends
 Project-Specific Durability Study / Service-Life
Prediction
 Additional Durability Enhancement Methods
 Structural Design
 ACI 318 = ??? years
 AASHTO = 75 years
 EUROCODE 2 = 50 years
 BS 5400 = 50 years
 BS 8500 = 50 years
Additional Durability Enhancement Techniques

Admixtures Reinforcement Surface Electrochemical

Waterproofers Unreinforced Design Controlled Permeability Monitoring

Corrosion Inhibitors Epoxy Coated Steel Formwork Cathodic Protection
Corrosion Resistant Sealers
Steel Coatings
Galvanized
 MEDRC Research
Selected Concrete Mix Design.

Laboratory Tests

Service Life Prediction

Field Testing Stations

 Standard Durability Tests
• Water Permeability, BS EN 12390/DIN 1048

• Water Absorption, BS 1881-122

• Rapid Chloride Penetration, ASTM C 1202

ASTM G 109 Test
ASTM G 109 Specimens
Further Research to Improve our
Understanding of SLP

 200

 180
Integrated Current (Coulombs)

 160

 140

 120

 100 OPC
 80 OPC/MCI

 60

 40

 20

 ‐
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36
 Conclusions
The Gulf region is considered the most corrosive
location in the world
Corrosion is the main durability factor leads to
deterioration of concrete structures
Use of Quality Concrete and good QA/QC system are
the key to achieve the required service life
Use of corrosion protection systems such as
corrosion inhibitors extend the service life of
structures
Thank you
ً‫شڪرا‬

Questions?