DURABILITY PERFOMANCE OF REINFORCED CONCRETE COVERINGS IN BUILDINGS EXPOSED TO THE UNDERGROUND EXPOSURE CONDITION IN CUBA

Abstract

The durability performance of reinforced concrete has been extensively studied under outdoor exposure condition to the atmosphere in Cuba. This is not the case in reinforced concrete coatings in buildings exposed to underground exposure conditions. To characterize the durability performance in nine buildings exposed in three outdoor environments, is the main objective of this study. To evaluate the concrete quality. To estimate the corrosivity categories of the atmosphere as a type of indoor exposure condition. To demonstrate the factors influencing in the corrosion current intensity in reinforcement steel and to estimate the service life of the buildings are the specific objects Three buildings in coastal, rural, and urban outdoor environments were selected. Four destructive and non-destructive tests were used, based on the 30 values determination. The concrete showed inadequate quality in the three outdoor environments exposed to medium and high corrosivity categories of the atmosphere in the underground exposure condition. Long service life project higher than 80 years, were not obtained for the buildings. Factors influencing in the corrosion current intensity were very consistent, with the reinforced concrete exposed to outdoor exposure condition to very high corrosivity categories of the atmosphere. The durability requirements obtained for this condition, where the concrete guaranteed a long service life project higher than 80 years and high resistance to carbonation could be used in reinforced concrete coating.