Review of the incidence of the sulphate attack in Spain. Evaluation of field concrete cases

In this research, an analysis of the damage caused by sulphate attack in various hardened concrete structures, located in Spain, is carried out. This work is showing a summarization of field concretes affected by sulphate attack (external or internal) in the last twenty years based on the experience of the Eduardo Torroja Institute. For the damage assessment, a set of parameters that directly influence the degree of aggressiveness of the attack are taken into account. Parameters related to risks are assessed, such as the environmental conditions of exposure and the characteristics of the materials of the structure itself. The effects of degradation, related to the consequences of this damage, are also analysed. Likewise, these parameters are also related to the type of structures affected. In several regions of Spain, geological characteristics of the soils and climatic conditions that directly influence the processes of attack by sulphates in concrete structures and promote the occurrence of cases of concrete structures attacked by sulphates are presented. These conditions are well known and sulphate resistant cements are commonly used in Spain. Even so, in Spain there are several concrete structures affected by sulphate attack. A number of 17 cases have been analysed according to the experience with sulphate attack in structures and concrete elements at IETcc-CSIC team in the last 20 years.