ABSTRACT
For many years after the introduction of reinforced concrete as a construction material at the end of the nineteenth century, it was considered that concrete structures were built to last without any further maintenance or repair. Structures in general, and concrete structures in particular are designed to fulfil requirements related to strength and function during a certain time period, without incurring unexpected costs for maintenance or repair. This time period is called the service life of the structure, and it is mainly determined by the structure’s durability. The service life of a structure can be studied from at least three different points of view: technical or structural, functional, and economical. A fundamental study of the durability of concrete has to start from the physical and chemical properties of the material and needs to consider the transport properties of potentially aggressive liquids and gasses in the pore system.
