Service Life Prediction Models for Reinforced Concrete

Engineering models for determination of service life of concrete structures are a step forward in solving the durability problems. International standards and various recommendations for design of reinforced and prestressed concrete structures do not adequately address the durability concerns. Numerous cases of damaged concrete structures are supporting the lack of such guidelines. As reinforcement corrosion is one of the most frequent deterioration process in concrete structures, the majority of models are based on deterioration mechanisms, due to reinforcement corrosion. An overview of three exsisting models, deterministic and probabilistic ones, for service life design of reinforced concrete structures exposed to chlorides is given in the paper.