Durability of Structures and How to Calculate Concrete Cover (Eurocode 2)

According to clause 4.1 of EN 1992-1-1:2004, a durable structure should meet the requirements of serviceability, strength and stability throughout its design working life, without significant loss of utility or excessive unforeseen maintenance.

IMG 20171016 202044
Fig. 1: Typical Carbonation Problem Leading to Lack of Durability in a Reinforced Concrete Structure

The required protection of any structure is established by considering the intended use of the structure, the design working life, maintenance programme, significance of possible direct and indirect actions, environmental conditions etc. Environmental conditions that can be considered may include storage of aggressive chemicals, chlorides in the concrete, acid solutions, alkali-aggregate reactions etc which are generally categorised as chemical attacks. Issues like abrasion, water penetration, temperature change etc are categorised as physical attacks.

According to clause 4.3 of Eurocode 2, in order to achieve the required design working life of a structure, adequate measures shall be taken to protect each structural element against the relevant environmental actions. The requirements for durability shall be included when considering the following:

  • Structural conception,
  • Material selection,
  • Construction details,
  • Execution,
  • Quality Control,
  • Inspection,
  • Verifications,
  • Special measures (e.g. use of stainless steel, coatings, cathodic protection).

An important aspect of durability of reinforced concrete structure is the anticipated exposure of the element under consideration. Some exposure conditions are given in the table below (Table 4.1 of EN 1992-1-1:2004);

ENVIRONMENTAL%2BCONDITIONS

2.0 Concrete Cover
Concrete cover is the distance between the surface of the reinforcement closest to the nearest concrete surface (including links and stirrups and surface reinforcement where relevant) and the nearest concrete surface.

Concrete cover is defined as a minimum cover, cmin, plus an allowance in design for deviation, Δcdev;

cnom = cmin + Δcdev ———- (1)

Minimum concrete cover, cmin, shall be provided in order to ensure the safe transmission of bond forces, protection of the steel against corrosion (durability) and for an adequate fire resistance.

The greater value for cmin satisfying the above mentioned requirements shall be used. This is given by;

cmin = max {cmin,b; cmin,dur + Δcdur,γ – Δcdur,st – Δcdur,add; 10 mm} ———- (2)

where;
cmin,b  is the minimum cover due to bond requirement
cmin,dur   is the minimum cover due to environmental conditions
Δcdur,γ  is for additive safety element
Δcdur,st  is the reduction of minimum cover for use of stainless steel
Δcdur,add  is the reduction of minimum cover for use of additional protection

In order to transmit bond forces safely and to ensure adequate compaction of the concrete,
the minimum cover should not be less than cmin,b given in Table 4.2 of EN 1992-1-1:2004 and given in Table 2 below;

Minimum%2Bcover%2Bfor%2Bbond%2Brequirement
The cover due to environmental conditions (durability) is given in the table below; (Table 4.4 EN 1992-1-1:2004).
DURABILITY%2BOF%2BCONCRETE

3.0 Solved Example
Design the concrete cover of an external reinforced concrete beam.. The concrete in use has resistance class C30/37.
Bottom longitudinal bars are H16; the stirrups are H8

The max aggregate size is: dg = 20 mm (< 32 mm).

The design working life of the structure is 50 years.
Normal quality control is put in place.


Solution

From table 4.1 of EN 1992-1-1:2004, the appropriate exposure class is XC3 (assuming the beam is sheltered from rain).
The recommended structural class (design life of 50 years) is S4.
First, the concrete cover for the stirrups is calculated.
cmin,b = 8 mm
We obtain from table 4.4N – EC2:
cmin,dur = 25 mm
Moreover:
Δcdur,γ = 0 ;
Δcdur,st = 0 ;
Δcdur,add = 0 .
From relation (2):
cmin = max {cmin,b; cmin,dur + Δcdur,γ – Δcdur,st – Δcdur,add; 10 mm}
cmin = max (8; 25 + 0 – 0 – 0; 10 mm) = 25 mm
Moreover:
Δcdev = 10 mm (recommended value)
We obtain from relation (1):
cnom = cmin + Δcdev = 25 + 10 = 35 mm .
Secondly, the concrete cover for the longitudinal main bars is calculated.
cmin,b = 16 mm
We obtain from table 4.4N – EC2:
cmin,dur = 25 mm
Moreover:
Δcdur,γ = 0 ;
Δcdur,st = 0 ;
Δcdur,add = 0 .
From relation (2):
cmin = max {cmin,b; cmin,dur + Δcdur,γ – Δcdur,st – Δcdur,add; 10 mm}
cmin = max (16; 25 + 0 – 0 – 0; 10 mm) = 25 mm
Δcdev = 10 mm.
We obtain from relation (1):
cnom = cmin + Δcdev = 25 + 10 = 35 mm.
Since the cover for stirrups is more critical, the actual concrete cover for the main longitudinal bars is 35 + 8 = 43mm
NOTE:
According to Clause 4.4.1.2(9), where in-situ concrete is placed against other concrete elements (precast or in-situ) the minimum concrete cover of the reinforcement to the interface may be reduced to a value corresponding to the requirement for bond provided that:
– the strength class of concrete is at least C25/30,
– the exposure time of the concrete surface to an outdoor environment is short (< 28 days),
– the interface has been roughened.
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