New paradigm in concrete durability: combined damage mechanisms, virtual testing, and artifical intelligence modeling of service life performance

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Concrete infrastructure is essential for Canada's economic growth, international competitiveness, and overall quality of life. Reinforced Concrete (RC) structures are subjected in-situ to the combined damage of several deterioration agents often acting in a synergistic manner. Yet, standard test methods for durability continue to subject laboratory concrete specimens to one deterioration mechanism at a time in order to qualify concrete mixtures for complex exposure regimes that are quite different from the single-parameter lab tests. Thus, despite new developments in concrete technology, RC structures continue to deteriorate prematurely. Added to ongoing deferred maintenance and budgetary constraints, this has created a colossal backlog of deteriorated civil infrastructure, imposing a veritable drain of national wealth. This research program will (i) investigate the synergistic effects of combined damage mechanisms on concrete, (ii) build knowledge databases for such combined damage mechanisms to create predictive artificial intelligence-based models for the life cycle performance of concrete subjected to complex field exposure regimes, and (iii) incorporate this knowledge into performance-based durability design tools. This novel research program stems from a paradigm shift which perceives the future standard tests for the durability design of concrete to be performance-based, using artificial intelligence models that can account for the real complex exposure of RC structures in-situ, and conducted via computer simulations. The anticipated impact of the research is paramount since the future design of concrete structures can adequately address the complex damage mechanisms acting on concrete in the field, thus mitigating the premature deterioration of RC structures and preventing the associated economic losses. Also, future standard durability tests for concrete can be carried out using rapid computer simulations of actual field exposure, thus saving time and money. Seven PhD and three MESc students will be trained over the next five years in this novel research. The requested NSERC funds are vital to sustain and accelerate the applicant's research program, and to enhance his international leadership in this field.