Aging and Deterioration of Concrete Structures: Learning from the Past, Assessing the Present, and Predicting the Future; Science or Magic?

G. Cusatis, M. Alnaggar, P. Gardoni, M. D'Ambrosia, J. Qu

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

This paper deals with important issue of the aging and deterioration of concrete structures: a problem at the forefront of civil engrineering research that has profound impact on our society and our way of living. Despite the recognized importance of such issue, entrenched practice and remediation approaches are, for the most part, empirical and fundamentally related only to the lifetime experience of few capable professionals. We all need to thank the work of these people but this paper argues that such "modus operandi" is only slightly better than predicting the future of infrastructure by looking into a crystal ball - it is more magic than science. On the contrary, this paper presents a different vision in which "predictions" are based on a rigourous structural reliability framework equipped with physically-sound computational models that are rigorously validated and continually updated on the basis of reliable experimental data obtained from both destructuve and non-destructuve techniques.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationCONCREEP 2015
Subtitle of host publicationMechanics and Physics of Creep, Shrinkage, and Durability of Concrete and Concrete Structures - Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Mechanics and Physics of Creep, Shrinkage, and Durability of Concrete and Concrete Structures
EditorsJohann Kollegger, Christian Hellmich, Bernhard Pichler
PublisherAmerican Society of Civil Engineers
Pages24-33
Number of pages10
ISBN (Electronic)9780784479346
DOIs
StatePublished - 2015
Event10th International Conference on Mechanics and Physics of Creep, Shrinkage, and Durability of Concrete and Concrete Structures, CONCREEP 2015 - Vienna, Austria
Duration: Sep 21 2015Sep 23 2015

Publication series

NameCONCREEP 2015: Mechanics and Physics of Creep, Shrinkage, and Durability of Concrete and Concrete Structures - Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Mechanics and Physics of Creep, Shrinkage, and Durability of Concrete and Concrete Structures

Other

Other10th International Conference on Mechanics and Physics of Creep, Shrinkage, and Durability of Concrete and Concrete Structures, CONCREEP 2015
Country/TerritoryAustria
CityVienna
Period9/21/159/23/15

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Mechanics of Materials
  • Building and Construction

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Aging and Deterioration of Concrete Structures: Learning from the Past, Assessing the Present, and Predicting the Future; Science or Magic?'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this