Concrete should be durable enough to avoid deterioration due to freeze-thaw cycle, sulfate attack and aggregate-alkali reaction.
Freeze-thaw cycle
refers to the process where water in voids freezes under low temperature. Upon
freezing, the volume of water increases, and such expansion forces the concrete
to crack and deteriorate.
Sulfate can react
with aluminates in cement. The resultant product has greater volume, which will
then expand the concrete and cause the cracking. Sulfate usually presents in
soil and seawater in the form of sodium sulfate and calcium sulfate.
Natural aggregate
and alkalis in concrete may react in the presence of water. As a result,
aggregates swell and causes the concrete to crack.
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