4. Conclusion

The internal sulfate reaction involving the delayed formation of ettringite was discovered some twenty years ago in steamed precast elements, and it is only in the last ten years or so that it has been known to affect cast-in-place structures whose concrete has reached high temperatures. This relatively recent discovery explains why so little study and research has been devoted to it to date.

• In terms of pathology, it should be noted that the situation is rather reassuring in terms of safety, insofar as the evolution over time of structures...