Coupling between leaching and creep of concrete

In a radioactive waste disposal, concrete containment structures must be studied over extended periods during which it is necessary to account for a possible degradation by calcium leaching due to on-site water. An experimental investigation is described where the effects of an accelerated calcium leaching process of concrete on creep of concrete are highlighted. The comparison with a creep test where the sample is immersed in water shows that leaching generates tertiary creep and rupture of the specimen. A Dirichlet series coupled to a mechanical damage are used to model the coupled tertiary creep. With this method we can evaluate the lifetime of concrete structures subjected to chemical and mechanical loading.