Degradation of the Building Structures due to Carbonation of Concrete

Abstract

Carbonation of the concrete is a process influencing acceleration of the aging of concrete during the time, at reinforced concrete structures it is usually accompanied with corrosion of the reinforcement and disturbances of the covering layer of the concrete. Its consequence is decrease of the static reliability of the reinforced concrete building structures. Carbonation of the construction from common concrete and lightened concrete causes just in the CR damage worth billions of Czech Crowns every year. The paper refers about seriousness of the current technical state of reinforced concrete structures and influence of the most important factors on the course of their degradation caused by carbonation and specifies principles for designing new reinforced concrete constructions.