What are the types of physical deterioration of concrete?
Abrasion is the wearing-off of the concrete surface, e.g. as in pavements, industrial floors, etc. Erosion of concrete takes place in canal linings, spillways, pipes, etc., through the action of solid particles in suspension. Dense and strong concrete is safe against such damages. Cracks develop inside concrete due to pressures exerted by the process of crystallization of salts, like sulphates and chlorides, entering into the concrete from the surface in the form of solutions. Cracks also develop due to heating and cooling, as well as wetting and drying. Cracks are, initially, discontinuous micro-cracks that later get interconnected and start allowing the circulation of air, carbon dioxide and water along with injurious chemicals, which cause further deterioration. Dense, strong, and impermeable concrete can prevent the development of these micro-cracks. Fire is another agent of deterioration. It allows the building to maintain its structural integrity for some hours, which often facil
