Durability evaluation issues of reinforced concrete structures during operation: a review and perspectives

Abstract

Abstract This article is devoted to analyzing several existing models and methods for the probabilistic durability assessment of reinforced concrete (RC) structures during operation. For this task, the authors reviewed and analyzed many existing studies by Ukrainian and foreign researchers in this field and highlighted the problems of a normative and calculation base. As determined, almost all design norms consider durability (or residual resource) regarding RC structures’ design and operation practice (without considering their life cycle), including the stochastic model’s construction in a specific environment. According to the author’s point of view, an initial random data package for all individual tasks is necessary due to the durability assessment issues’ complexity. In turn, that requires including parameters of the member’s bearing capacity reserve (materials’ strengths, dimensions of sections, etc.) and its service conditions (different types of actions) which are stochastic. Based on the studies reviewed, the authors also emphasize the main advantages and disadvantages of the models and methods described here. Also they formulated the recommendations for further studies in this field, namely expanding the use of numerical simulations (including Monte Carlo methods) to creating a fundamental base of a unified practical system for the reliability management (including durability) of RC structures during operation.