Existing structures often no longer meet the demands formulated in contemporary design codes with respect to structural safety and serviceability. This occurs, for instance, if the loads on existing structures, like traffic loads on bridges, are larger than assumed in the original design. A second potential reason is that structures are subject to deterioration, like alkali–silica reaction within the concrete or corrosion of the reinforcement due to chloride attack or carbonation. A third possible reason is that in recent codes, additional criteria have been introduced based on new theories and/or negative experiences with older structures. The new fib Model Code for Concrete Structures 2020 will be valid both for the design of new structures and the assessment of existing structures. This paper shows how the design and assessment of concrete structures are integrated into this new code concept.
For the assessment of concrete structures in the new fib Model Code 2020 (fib MC 2020), three categories are distinguished: (1) the residual capacity of existing structures without damage, (2) the residual capacity of structures suffering deterioration, and (3) the residual capacity of structures with noncompliant details. In the accompanying paper by Walraven and Dieteren in this volume, the backgrounds for this subdivision have been explained, and indications for the assessment of existing concrete structures in those categories have been given. In the actual paper, examples are given how to perform an assessment of concrete structures for the categories mentioned above. These examples have contributed to the formulations of the recommendations proposed for fib MC 2020.
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