Durability limit states in the design of reinforced concrete structures

The Model Code for Service Life Design developed by the European FIB organization, provides a method for ensuring the durability of designed reinforced concrete structures based on meeting the conditions defining the reinforcement depassivation limit state. The article presents the principles of this design procedure for concrete carbonation and chloride-induced degradation. The required thickness of the reinforcement cover is determined according to the diffusion equation, while the characteristics of the material are included in the coefficients used in the equation. These coefficients are determined based on the results of accelerated tests, a statistical description of the behaviour of concrete in the expected environment, and climatic conditions at the location of the erected structure.