Title: Carbonation of Some Coastal Concrete Structures in Kuwait

Author(s): H. Al-Khaiat and M. N. Haque

Publication: Materials Journal

Volume: 94

Issue: 6

Appears on pages(s): 602-607

Keywords: carbonation; compressive strength; cores; density; fires;

DOI: 10.14359/345

Date: 11/1/1997

Abstract:
Concrete cores were extracted from 50 buildings situated from 0.5 to 18 km from the coast of the State of Kuwait. The buildings considered were located near and away from the oil fires. Concrete properties such as density, compressive strength, and depth of carbonation are reported in this paper. The 1991 Kuwait oil well fires do not seem to have caused any additional damage to the concrete structures. The results of this investigation, however, suggest that coastal structures in hot exposure and climatic conditions of Kuwait result in higher carbonation depth than the near-coastal buildings. It is recommended, on the basis of the results of this survey, that coastal and near-coastal reinforced concrete structures should be built in Kuwait with concrete compressive strength of at least 40 and 30 MPa, respectively.