ABSTRACT
Chloride ingress and carbonation lead to corrosion of reinforcing bars and therefore reduce the service life of reinforced concrete (RC) structures. Both deterioration mechanisms are highly influenced by environmental and climatic conditions of the surrounding environment. Consequently, the changes in environmental temperature, relative humidity and carbon dioxide concentration induced by climate change can increase corrosion risks resulting in more widespread corrosion damage and loss of structural safety. This chapter proposes a comprehensive methodology to assess the impact of climate change on the durability of RC structures subjected to chloride ingress and carbonation under a changing climate. The methodology combines probabilistic models able to account for climate change variations with predictions (CO2 concentration, temperature, and relative humidity) for various climate change scenarios. Two numerical examples illustrate the application of the methodology for the assessment of the effects of climate change on the reliability of RC structures. For chloride-induced corrosion, it was found that climate could reduce the time to failure by up to 31 per cent, or shorten service life by up to 15 years for moderate levels of aggressiveness. Concerning carbonation-induced corrosion, it was found that carbonation is very sensitive to local climate and climate change scenarios. To enhance resiliency, specific design improvement and/or adaptation strategies should therefore consider exposure and specific climate of each structural location.
