Print this page Petrographic Analysis of Concrete Deterioration
Matthew Stuart, P.E., S.E., F.ASCE
Course Outline
A. Introduction to the Investigation of Concrete Deterioration.
1. On-Site Condition Evaluation Survey.
2. Laboratory Petrographic Analysis.
3. Determination of Extent of Damage and Remaining Service Life.
4. Assessment of Repair Materials and Coatings Application.
5. Assessment of Cathodic Protection Systems.
B. Petrographic Analysis.
C. Concrete Pathology.
1. Concrete deterioration which is not directly influenced by reinforcement corrosion:
a. Leaching Attack.
b. Deterioration due to Magnesia or Lime Grains.
c. Deterioration due to Pyrites in the Aggregates.
d. Alkali Reactions.
e. Deterioration due to Environmental ExposureWaste Water
Deterioration in Sulfate Environmentsf. Delayed Ettringite Formation.
g. Deterioration due to Chemical Exposure.2. Concrete deterioration influenced by reinforcement corrosion:
a. Chloride Attack.
D. Examples of Deterioration that can be Established by Petrographic Analysis.
1. Acid Attack.
2. External Sulfate Attack.
3. Delayed Ettringite Formation.
4. Alkali Silica Reactions in Concrete.
5. Carbonation of Concrete.
6. Freeze Thaw Deterioration of Concrete.
This course includes
a multiple choice quiz at the end,
Learning Objective
At the conclusion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Understand the need for petrographic analysis as a part of a thorough investigation of deteriorated concrete;
- Be knowledgeable of the different types of chemical and physical properties of concrete that can be determined by a petrographic analysis;
- Understand the basic steps involved in the overall investigation of a deteriorated concrete structure;
- Be knowledgeable of the basic services that a qualified petrographic laboratory should provide as a part of analysis of concrete material samples;
- Have an understanding of the different types of concrete deterioration that can be present in a concrete structure; and
- Be able to identify
the different types of deterioration that can be identified by a petrographic
analysis and the common diagnostics features of each.
Intended Audience
This
course is intended for engineers (structural, forensic and process) and architects.
Benefit to Attendees
This course will enable a design professional to understand the importance of using petrographic analysis in both the determination of the cause and proper repair of deteriorated concrete.
Course Introduction
Petrographic analysis is a key component of the investigation of an existing deteriorated concrete structure. Petrographic analysis can be used to determine chemical and physical irregularities in concrete including the nature of the chemical attack, identification of reactive aggregate, strength, mixture proportion estimates (such as water/cement ratio), cement and fly-ash content, corrosion potential of embedded steel, degree of carbonation, aggregate size and distribution, presence of alkali-aggregate or sulfate reaction. This type of information can aid in the determination of the root cause of failure and extent of cracking, dusting, scaling, coating delamination and other types of concrete deterioration.
Course Content
This course content is in the following PDF document:
Petrographic Analysis of Concrete Deterioration
Please click on the above underlined hypertext to view, download or print the document for your study. Because of the large file size, we recommend that you first save the file to your computer by right clicking the mouse and choosing "Save Target As ...", and then open the file in Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you still experience any difficulty in downloading or opening this file, you may need to close some applications or reboot your computer to free up some memory.
If you have trouble reading any of the material on line, it is recommended that the course material be printed out for better resolution.Course Summary
Petrographic analysis
is a key component of the investigation of an existing deteriorated concrete
structure. Petrographic analysis can be used to determine both chemical and
physical irregularities in concrete and should be used in conjunction with an
on-site condition survey. The information obtained from a petrographic analysis
can aid in both the determination of the root cause of failure or deterioration
of the concrete and enable the proper assessment of the potential rehabilitation
techniques and materials required to both repair the existing structure as well
as mitigate further corrosion and deterioration of the concrete.
Related Links
For additional information related to this subject, please visit the following websites or web pages:
http://www.sikaconstruction.com/
http://www.aci-int.com/general/home.asp
http://www.nationalpetrographic.com/
http://structuremag.com/archives/2006/January-2006/C-SP-Petography-Powers.pdf
http://structuremag.com/Archives/2008-1/C-Str-Testing%20-ConcreteTesting-Feldman-Jan08.pdf
http://www.cement.com/tech/cct_dur_AAR.asp
http://leadstates.transportation.com/asr/index.stm
Quiz
Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.
DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.
