The Corrosion of Steel, and Its Monitoring, in Concrete

Concrete is a complex material of construction that enables the high compressive strength of natural stone to be used in any configuration. This is accomplished by breaking natural stone to suitable sizes and mixing the aggregates so formed with suitable proportions of water and cement. This mixture can then be moulded into any required shape while still fluid. The water and cement react chemically, forming a “glue” that bonds the pieces of stone aggregate together into a structural member, which becomes rigid and strong in compression when the chemical reaction is completed (i.e. the concrete is “cured”). In tension, however, concrete can be no stronger than the bond between the cured cement and the surfaces of the aggregate. This is generally much lower than the compressive strength of the concrete.