Title: Prediction of Long-Term Durability of Vasco Da Gama Bridge in Lisbon

Author(s): O. Houdusse, H. Hornain, and G. Martinet

Publication: Symposium Paper

Volume: 192

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 1037-1052

Keywords: chloride; concretes; durability; finite element method;

DOI: 10.14359/5800

Date: 4/1/2000

Abstract:
The durability of concrete has become one of the main parameters used in the design requirements of concrete structures. The prediction of the long-term behavior (> 100 years) of concrete structures exposed to severe chemical environments must take into account the evolution of the chemical composition of the material and its microstructure. One of the aims of on-going researches on the long-term durability of cement-based materials is to know, the evolution of concentration profiles of different aggressive ions in the pore solution and solid phase, for a concrete placed in a given environment. A predictive model which leas to a better understanding of this evolution has been developed t LERM. This model has been applied to the concrete of the Vasco da Gama Bridge built in the Tagus bay in Lisbon. In this case, the service life, defined as the initiation period of steel corrosion, of this bridge has to be evaluated using the predictive model, taking into account a critical concentration of chloride at the level of the reinforcement. The coupling of numerical calculations and different experimental measurements and observations realized on the cores of concrete drilled at different times has allowed to a first validation of numerical predictions and realistic prediction the durability of the concrete with regard to the corrosion of reinforcements which is the main risk.