Components
Jassem Abdullah Al Ali
of Reinforced
Senior Traffic Planning Engineer \
Roads and Infrastructure Department \
Concrete
Abu Dhabi Municipality
Concrete has been used for hundreds,
negative impacts on longevity of con-
if not for thousands, of years, to build
crete construction.
various structures worldwide.
As for reinforced concrete at civil engi-
One of the main reasons that concrete
neering level, it has become an obses-
is one of the best materials used in
sion for engineers and scientists, espe-
construction is that it relies on materi-
cially in the Middle East region in light
als available and used for concrete mix
of its sophisticated architectural boom.
itself, as well as its physical properties
There are three reasons behind corro-
and hardness. Concrete has also been
sion of concrete:
turer of these materials.
chosen as a preferred material in the
1. Internal causes related to concrete
- It is preferred that concrete surfaces
construction process due to its relative-
components or existence of pollutants
shall be painted with insulating materi-
ly low price and durability. There are
such as clay or active silica that lead
als after finishing repair to improve its
several factors that reduce concrete
to harmful reactions to concrete's main
performance in the future.
longevity, which can lead to losing large
components.
- Use of weatherproof paints in coastal
sums of money in maintenance op-
2. External causes which are confined
areas.
erations, such as climatic conditions,
to attacking chemicals, such as sulfates
If the cracks are large, repairs require
wrong choice of concrete mix, faulty de-
and chlorides, for concrete, sea water,
specialists in this field to assess im-
sign of the facility in general and over-
sewage and industrial waste.
pacts of these damaged concrete parts.
loading of concrete.
3. Biological causes represented in the
At the level of structural designs of
The concrete mix has five main com-
flow of underground water and its tem-
concrete itself, engineers have been
ponents:
perature, oxidation and carbonization,
currently able to build buildings with
1. Water
evaporation of water from the surface
at least 50-years longevity without the
2. Cement
of concrete and unstable levels of un-
need for main maintenance. Such de-
3. Rubble
derground water.
velopment has contributed to saving
4. Rebar
However, there are simple ways to treat
large sums of money thanks to the use
5. Mineral and Chemical Additives.
damage of reinforced concrete, as fol-
of new mixtures adapted to climatic
Undoubtedly, the need for advanced
lows:
conditions and other factors mentioned
concrete foundations with higher spec-
- Removal of damaged concrete parts
above. For example, Burj Khalifa in
ifications has become a focal point
beyond rebar with thorough cleaning of
the UAE is the world's tallest building
widely at level of scientific field in the
rebar to get rid of rust on its surface.
despite difficult climatic environmental
last ten decades, as global climate
- Paint rebar with special materials
conditions.
change has become a major challenge
for this purpose, such as zinc-coated
Researches on this field are still ongo-
and has negative impact on concrete
epoxy.
ing to improve various concrete mix-
damage.
- Preparing alternative cement ma-
tures to be added to internationally-rec-
Moreover, most of the world's popu-
terials and putting them in place of
ognized manuals of standards.
lation have settled on coastal areas,
removed concrete, according to spec-
which means increased humidity and
ifications and instructions of manufac-
Articles
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