Carbonation-Induced Corrosion of Reinforced Concrete Elements according to Their Positions in the Buildings

Most regulations on the manufacturing of concrete for reinforced concrete structures rest on durability models that consider the corrosion of reinforcements. Those models are based on factors such as humidity, frost, presence of chlorides, and internal characteristics of the concrete itself, like resistance, porosity, type of cement, water/cement ratio, etc. No regulations, however, adopt a purely constructive perspective when evaluating the risk of corrosion, i.e., the relative position of the reinforced concrete in buildings. The present work focuses on the relationship between the position of the damaged element and the building envelope. A total of 84 elements (columns and reinforced concrete beams) across twenty buildings were analysed in the provinces of Alicante and Murcia (Spain). The reinforcement concrete of these elements underwent carbonation-induced corrosion according to their positions in the buildings: (A) façade columns in contact with the ground; (B) interior columns in contact with the ground; (C) columns of walls in contact with the ground; (D) columns and external beams protected from rain; (E) columns and external beams exposed to rain; (F) columns and beams in air chambers under sanitary slabs; and (G), columns and interior beams. Of all types, elements (E) and (F) suffered carbonation-induced corrosion faster than the models used in the regulations, and type (G) underwent slower carbonation. This research was funded by the European Union-Next Generation EU grant number reference RECUALI 21-08 (Requalification of the Spanish University System 2021–2023).