Sponsored by ASCE's Structural Engineering Institute and ASCE Continuing Education.

The presenter made all the difference. He really made the material interesting and clear. Anonymous Attendee 

Purpose and Background

Concrete has been called durable but not eternal material. Despite its longevity, it eventually deteriorates and requires repair or replacement. This webinar focuses on repairing deteriorated concrete and restoring its structural capacity. (A related topic on strengthening concrete buildings in sound condition is addressed in a separate presentation.) The webinar provides a succinct overview of the issues involved in repair of concrete structures, with a focus on practical solutions useful for a design engineer.

The first step in a successful repair project involves damage assessment and arriving at a proper diagnosis. All too often, by the time concrete shows obvious signs of distress, and the owner wants it fixed, it may be too late, and replacement may be more effective. Accordingly, the webinar begins with a question of when concrete should be repaired and when it is best replaced. It continues with the topics of modern damage assessment methods and then with identification and repair of various kinds of concrete problems.

Much of the webinar is devoted to effective yet economical methods of repairing concrete structures. It addresses the most common challenges of concrete rehabilitation, including crack repair, patching, using strengthening methods in lieu of repair, choosing the most appropriate repair materials, and many more. Despite much advice available on the topic, many concrete repairs fail prematurely, sometimes within a few years. The instructor explains where the common pitfalls of concrete repairs lie and how to avoid them.

Learning Outcomes/Benefits

• Discover contemporary methods of repairing concrete structures
• Learn to properly identify and repair concrete cracks
• Discuss practical methods of patching concrete and when patching should be avoided
• Learn how corrosion degrades concrete and how to deal with its effects
• Study the concrete repair materials available today

Intended Audience

Structural and civil engineers, architects, facility managers, and building officials seeking to broaden their knowledge of repairing concrete structures will benefit from this webinar. There are no calculations involved, and those who are not engineers will not be overwhelmed because the instruction is kept enjoyable, practical, and easy to follow.

Webinar Outline

• Introduction: Repair or replace?
• Causes of concrete deterioration
• Investigating existing conditions
• Identifying and repairing concrete cracks
• Corrosion of reinforcement: Detection and repair 
• Patching
• Dealing with column deterioration
• Concrete repair materials available today
• Avoiding failures of concrete repairs
• Case study
• Final questions and answers