Performance-based design of concrete structures: durability aspects

PBD means identifying and calculating as design parameters such as the service life, concrete cover, quality of concrete and the relevant reliability index value in the context of the appropriate Limit State (LS). This should be done in conjunction with balancing or optimizing the long-term economic consequences, technological feasibility, planning of inspections, maintenance and other factors. Such complex decision making needs special methodology, software tools, an experienced designer and his/her close cooperation with the client. Durability Limit States (DLS) are recognized as a relatively new category of Serviceability Limit State (SLS). When assessing the degradation of reinforced concrete structures, corrosion of reinforcement is the dominant effect. This is usually preceded by reinforcement depassivation. The statistical characteristics of the carbonation depth vs. time are output data automatically calculated for a series of time values.