Finite element modelling for service life prediction of repaired concrete in marine environment

Abstract

Service life of concrete structures subjected to a chloride environment can be predicted using chloride transport models based on the partial differential equation (PDE) of Fick's second law of diffusion. In this paper, a numerical finite element based formulation is proposed for the service life prediction of reinforced concrete structures in general cases, including those that the PDE cannot be solved analytically or by finite difference method. The proposed model effectively accommodates time- and space-dependent chloride transport, chloride binding, as well as the effect of steel reinforcement and the effect of concrete cover replacement/repair. Practical applications are also analysed and discussed, which highlights the model's validity and capability. © Institution of Engineers Australia, 2010.