Can water cause deterioration of concrete?
Generally, the combination of water and favorable temperatures increases the strength of concrete throughout its life cycle. However, water also can act as the transport system for nearly all mechanisms aggressive to concrete. Some examples are: • Porous, water-saturated concrete that does not have adequate strength and entrained air is prone to scaling, which is a deterioration mechanism caused by freezing of water in concrete • Water can carry aggressive chemicals into the concrete surface such as acids, sulfates, or chlorides • Concrete that contains alkali-reactive aggregates is subject to deleterious expansion from water • Water that passes over the surface of concrete with a high velocity can erode the surface over time Exposure to water is typically beneficial to concrete, but there are circumstances in which it can also contribute to the deterioration of concrete. Service environment conditions are key in determining whether water will have beneficial or deleterious effects. Qu
