ABSTRACT
The expression ‘durability of concrete’ is usually used to characterize, in general terms, the resistance of concrete to the attack of physical or chemical aggressive agents. The nature, intensity and mechanism implied in each of these different attacks can vary considerably, which is why the expression durability of concrete is sometimes perceived as too vague an expression. There does not exist any standardized method of measuring the durability of concrete in general. There are no units in which to evaluate the durability of concrete such as exist when the strength of a particular concrete has to be evaluated or for scaling resistance when concrete is exposed to slow freeze-thaw cycles in the presence of deicing salts. Some engineers still prefer to specify, immediately after the term durability, the type of attack that is involved. Therefore, we should really speak of the durabilities of concrete rather than the durability of concrete.
