1. Main causes of damage to engineering structures

1.1 Material degradation

The physical properties and, more specifically, the mechanical behavior of [15] concrete and steel are likely to deteriorate as a function of the environmental conditions defined by the geographical location of the structure.

The main causes of ageing are linked to the following phenomena:

• erosion, abrasion, impact ;

• action of freeze-thaw cycles ;

• physico-chemical alteration of concrete ;

• concrete shrinkage ;

• corrosion of metal reinforcements.

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