Durability requirements for reinforced concrete construction in aggressive marine environments

Reinforced concrte is being increasingly used in the construction of important and high cost marine structures in aggressive environments such as found in the Arabian Gulf states. In such highly aggressive and corrosive environments, it is essential to select the corect concrete materials to match the exposure severity and to adopt proper construction practices to obtain a high quality dense and impermeable concrete. The paper outlines the nature of exposure and the deterioration mechanisms in seawater and provides a set of specific recommendations to obtain durable concrete in aggressive marine environments.