Day: July 8, 2021

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Concrete Spalling – Expert Article | Robson Forensic

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Concrete Spalling – Expert Article | Robson Forensic

Delamination and spalling of a concrete member are both undesirable conditions; not only do they represent a potential struck-by hazard in the scenario where the spalled concrete falls and strikes a person, but they also reduce the cross sectional area of the concrete member and decrease its ability to safely carry imposed loads. An additional consideration is that both delamination and spalling offer increased access of air and water to the reinforcing steel within that member; thus creating a cycle of corrosion and increased access of the corrosive elements exacerbating the process with each subsequent cycle.

Beyond the obvious aesthetic issues, a reduction in the cross sectional area due to spalling and delamination is synonymous with a weakened concrete section. Additionally, delamination and spalling require increased maintenance, subsequent higher maintenance costs, and can result in a decreased service life of the concrete member(s).

I was reminded again how impermanent most human things are in this world, looking at the various parts of the Empire State Plaza platform that are all torn up to replace leaky roofs under the planters, grass and concrete slabs, to limit water and salt intrusion into the building where it can deteriorate the concrete by causing the rebar to rust and the concrete to spall

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I was reminded again how impermanent most human things are in this world, looking at the various parts of the Empire State Plaza platform that are all torn up to replace leaky roofs under the planters, grass and concrete slabs, to limit water and salt intrusion into the building where it can deteriorate the concrete by causing the rebar to rust and the concrete to spall. Without constant maintance of the Plaza the concrete would quickly deteriorated over a period of a few years. 50 or 100 years after abandonment, there might not be much more then pile of collapsed concrete concrete rubble and rusty piers with trees and bushes all grown over it.