Service life and durability design of RC structures: general considerations and selected Southern African perspectives and experiences

There is a growing trend to include service life (SL) and durability considerations in the design of reinforced concrete structures. This is partially a consequence of increasing deterioration of ageing concrete infrastructure worldwide and associated financial burdens and structural failures. Against this trend, this contribution critically explores the principles of SL and durability design and highlights the differences between SL modelling, SL prediction, SL design, and performance-based design, focussing on aspects related to reinforcement corrosion in concrete. Based on extensive research and practical experience, the Southern African perspective on concrete durability is then explored in more detail, in particular the South African performance-based design methods, associated SL modelling, and deterioration prevention methods. Based on chloride ingress measurements in-situ, a critique of design exposure classes for marine environments is presented, highlighting the need not only to consider chloride ingress, but also the various factors promoting reinforcement corrosion.