In today’s climate, the drive towards more sustainable construction materials is placing greater emphasis on understanding the long-term durability of low-carbon concrete.
Researchers at ETH Zurich are developing a new method to predict the service life of reinforced concrete by accounting for the impact of local weather conditions. Their study, examining climates ranging from Zurich and Bergen to Manaus and Huailai, highlights how moisture can dramatically accelerate the corrosion of steel reinforcement, with wet conditions potentially increasing corrosion rates by up to 100 times compared with dry conditions.
The findings also suggest that existing durability standards may not adequately reflect the behaviour of low-carbon concrete, potentially limiting its wider adoption. By developing more accurate and efficient assessment methods, the research aims to support the use of innovative, lower-carbon materials in construction.
