Climate change

&
concrete
infrastructure
Dr. Sree Nanukuttan &
Prof. Muhammed
Basheer

Layout of presentation
Deterioration of structures & the role of
exposure environment
Economics of infrastructure management
Performance of built infrastructure in
changing climate example carbonation
Concluding remarks & further research

Why do structures deteriorate?

Exposure
Environment

Inside
Concrete

Cl-

CO2
O2
H2O
Concrete Cover

Steel in concrete
Protected by gamma ferric oxide layer
pH~13 ; Chloride ions negligible

pre-construction

cost

pre-construction

Life cycle thinking

Inspection/
maintenance

Case 1 - Ideal

construction

construction

Inspection/
maintenance

Case 2 - Typical

Case 2

Case 1

Life Cycle Costing

Cost analysis for a 50 year period. Future costs are all brought to present value

Role of environmental loading

Condition rating of structures and the role of exposure environment

Rating 2

Case 2

Condition Rating

Case 1

Rating 3-4

Zone A = Mild; Zone B = Moderate; Zone C = Harsh)

Causes of deterioration of structures

5%

7%
33%

10%

Chlorides (External)
Chlorides (Internal)
Carbonation

9%

Chemical
Abrasion

10%

5%

Alkali-Aggregate Reaction
Freeze-Thaw

4%

Shrinkage & Settlement

17%

Carbonation

Other

Carbonation of Concrete

=
CO2

Cement matrix

Carbonates

Calcium hydroxides + others

Atmospheric Concentration
Diffusion & Binding
Relative Humidity & Temperature

Ionic concentrations
Rate of hydration
Construction related

Positives and Negatives of Carbonation

Damages

Positives
Densification of concrete &
Carbon capture
Absorption of CO2 over
the life time of concrete
~ 30kg/m3

Climatic variables - Temperature

Climatic variables - Temperature

Current temperature cycle
Future temperature cycle

Affects the diffusion process

Affects the binding capacity
Brings in other deterioration
factors

Climatic variables CO2 concentration

CO2 Increase
- From 1962 1971
- From 2002 2011

0.89ppm annual increase

2.07ppm annual increase

Climatic variables others

Relative humidity
Prolonged summers & winters
Rising sea level/salinity/Pressure/Wind
Micro climates

Effect of the increase in CO2

concentration
Time to Corrosion Initiation (years)

140

Increase in CO2 concentration

370ppm

120

573ppm

Prediction based on
2000 Average Global
CO2 concentration
2010 Average Global
CO2 concentration
2020 Predicted Global
CO2 concentration
2040 Predicted Global
CO2 concentration
2060 Predicted Global
CO2 concentration
2080 Predicted Global
CO2 concentration
2100 Predicted Global
CO2 concentration
2050 Predicted Global
CO2 concentration

100
80
60
40
20
0
0

50

100

150

Carbonation Depth (mm)

Normal Portland cement concrete, 0.50 w/b, Exposure Class XC3

CEM I Concrete

Effect of climatic variations CO2

concentration & temperature
CEM II B/S Concrete

Current climate (394ppm & 14C)

Future climate (600ppm & 19C)

Is current specification satisfactory?

Depth of Carbonation (mm)

Graph showing how the concrete mixes performed following the guidelines in
BS8500 for intended working life of 50 years - Current Conditions

Types of cement

50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0

OPC
OPC+35%GGBS
OPC+65%GGBS
OPC+35%PFA
Recommended cover from
BS8500

10

20

30

40

50

Time (years)

0.6w/b concrete

Current climate (394ppm, 10C)

50 years

Is current specification satisfactory?

Depth of Carbonation (mm)

Graph showing how the concrete mixes performed following the guidelines in
BS8500 for intended working life of 100 years- Current Conditions

Types of cement

70

OPC

60
50

OPC+35%GGBS

40

OPC+65%GGBS

30
OPC+35%PFA

20

Recommended cover from

BS8500

10
0
0

20

40

60

80

100

Time (years)

0.6w/b concrete

Current climate (394ppm, 10C)

100 years

Is current specification satisfactory?

Depth of Carbonation (mm)

Graph showing how the concrete mixes performed following the guidelines in
BS8500 for intended working life of 50 years using Climate Projections

60

Types of cement

50

OPC

40

OPC+35%GGBS

30
OPC+65%GGBS

20
OPC+35%PFA

10
0
0

10

20

30

40

50

Recommended cover from

BS8500

Time (years)

0.6w/b concrete

Future climate (500ppm, 11.5C)

50 years

Is current specification satisfactory?

Graph showing how the concrete mixes performed following the guidelines in
BS8500 for intended service life of 100 years using Climate Projections

Types of cement

80

OPC

Depth of Carbonation (mm)

70
60

OPC+35%GGBS

50
OPC+65%GGBS

40
30

OPC+35%PFA

20
10

Recommended cover from

BS8500

0
0

20

40

60

80

100

Time (years)

0.6w/b concrete

Future climate (500ppm, 11.5C)

100 years

Concluding remarks
Climate change will have a significant effect on
the carbonation process and therefore this
needs to be taken into consideration while
designing/specifying new structures.
More money will need to be spend
maintaining existing structures subjected to
carbonation.
Other environment related loading could
aggravate the concrete deterioration resulting
in significant drain on the economy.

On going research
5%

7%

10%

33%

Chlorides (External)
Chlorides (Internal)
Carbonation

9%

Chemical
Abrasion

10%

5%
4%

Alkali-Aggregate Reaction
Freeze-Thaw
Shrinkage & Settlement

17%

Other

On going research
Developing exposure locations across the world
with the help of research partners
Highlands, Scotland
Donegal Coast, Ireland
Lisboa, Portugal
St. Nazaire, France
Hangzhou Bay Bridge, China
Quantifying the impact of climate change on infrastructure:
Performance Monitoring and Cost/Performance predictions
domestic buildings and large civil infrastructures
Developing more adaptive maintenance strategies for
asset managers