U.S.-Mexico Cooperative Research: On the Durability of Reinforced,Prestressed,Post-Tensioned Concrete in a Marine Environment

这项美国-墨西哥奖将帮助支持佛罗里达大西洋大学海洋结构和地质技术中心的Dr. V. Reddy博士和墨西哥国立大学（UNAM）的Lorenzo Martinez博士领导的小组之间的联合研究。合作的目的是解决新材料对增强/预应力/后张混凝土耐久性行为的影响。拟议的实验将研究使用不同类型水泥对混凝土耐久性的影响。混合设计变量，如混凝土强度、空气含量、坍落度和水灰比，将研究它们对耐久性的影响。耐久性问题的严重程度足以值得各国和国际社会采取行动。由于耐久性不足，目前混凝土基础设施的更换和维修费用保守估计为数十亿美元。这项研究将提高对钢筋混凝土劣化的科学认识，提供对实际行为的更好解释，并制定估计预期寿命的指导方针。

This U.S.-Mexico award will help to support joint research between groups headed by Dr. D. V. Reddy of the Center for Marine Structures and Geotechnique at Florida Atlantic University and Dr. Lorenzo Martinez of the National University of Mexico (UNAM). The purpose of the collaboration is to address the effects of new materials on the durability behavior of reinforced/prestressed/post-tensioned concrete. The proposed experiments will study changes in concrete durability that result from the use of different types of cement. Mix design variables, such as concrete strength, air content, slump, and water-cement ratio, will be studied for their effects on durability. The magnitude of the durability problem is considerable enough to merit national and international action. The cost of current replacement and repair requirements in the concrete infrastructure, caused by inadequate durability, are conservatively estimated to be billions of dollars. This study will improve the scientific understanding of deterioration of reinforced concrete, provide improved interpretation of the actual behavior, and develop guidelines for estimating life expectancy.