Corrosion Limit State Design for Concrete Bridges

Deterioration processes observed on the existing concrete bridges in Croatia suggest that design procedures based on current specifications do not always ensure required service life, mostly because of the underestimated environmental influences. Some of the mechanisms of these influences can be simulated mathematically, so that they can be considered as a special type of loads, and consequently included into reinforced concrete structures design procedure by prescribing relevant durability criteria. The Corrosion Limit State Design procedure consists of three phases. The first phase focuses on analysing durability of the structural elements exposed to environmental loads ; the second one refers to structural modifications based on physical laws ; and the third phase takes part in prescribing new material and sectional properties. Corrosion limit state procedure is demonstrated on a design example for a prefabricated PC girder.