Carbonation in concrete infrastructure in the context of global climate change: Development of a service lifespan model

There is nearly unanimous consensus amongst scientists that increasing greenhouse gas emissions, including CO2 generated by human activity, are affecting the Earth’s climate. Increasing atmospheric CO2 emissions will likely increase the rates of carbonation in reinforced concrete structures.In this paper, the serviceable life, from construction through to cracking due to carbonation induced corrosion of concrete infrastructure is considered in various cities throughout the world. It was concluded that global climate change will affect the progression and will result in much higher ultimate carbonation depths in the long term.

► A service life model is developed to evaluate the effects of climate change on concrete infrastructure.
► Climate change will affect the progression of carbonation induced corrosion.
► Exposure conditions have a significant effect on corrosion propagation times in concrete.
► Structures being constructed in 2020–2030 may have to begin taking into account such degradation during design.
► In areas where carbonation induced corrosion is a concern structures may show a service life reduction of 15–20 years.