Our experienced and interdisciplinary team of experts, made up of engineers, chemists, mineralogists, geologists and physicists, would be pleased to advise you on all aspects of durability assessment. Our services include:
- Durability studies on laboratory or structural specimens
- Comprehensive testing and expert reports on alkali-silica reaction
- Service life design for existing or new reinforced concrete structures
Durability studies permit assessment of the resistance of concretes and mortars to the relevant environmental impacts. Our accredited, high-performance laboratories offer a wide range of facilities for the testing of durability properties in accordance with German and international standards and directives. The studies focus for example on:
- Resistance to carbonation
- Resistance to chloride penetration
- Freeze-thaw resistance and freeze-thaw resistance with de-icing salt
- Abrasion resistance
- Sulphate resistance
- Alkali-silica reaction (ASR)
A detailed overview of the testing procedures we offer can be found in the laboratory services section.
In the field of Alkali silica reaction (ASR), we offer not just the tests described in the Alkali Guidelines of the DAfStb, but also the performance of WS aggregate testing and ASR performance tests based on ARS No. 04/2013, as well as the production of corresponding expert reports. VDZ is recognised as an ASR expert by the German Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI) and the German Federal Highway Research Institute (BASt). Testing procedures as recommended by international teams of experts (e.g. RILEM) also form part of the scope of our services.
The parameters established in the course of material testing can often be used for service life design purposes. In this case, probabilistic calculation models are employed to forecast the probability of occurrence of a serviceability limit state with possibly ensuing reinforcement corrosion in reinforced concrete components. The application of these calculation models to forecast the durability of reinforced concrete structures often permits design or material-related optimisation. Maintenance action planning and estimation of the residual service life can be enhanced through the use of the calculation models.
