Title: Durability Survey in Kuwait

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

Publication: Concrete International

Volume: 19

Issue: 7

Appears on pages(s): 41-44

Keywords: buildings; carbonation; chlorides; compressive strength; sulfates;

DOI:

Date: 7/1/1997

Abstract:
A condition survey of 50 concrete buildings in Kuwait was undertaken to formulate recommendations to enhance the durability of concrete structures in the Gulf region. The 5 to 10-year-old buildings chosen for the survey were located 0.5 to 20 km from the coastline. The cores extracted from the buildings were tested for dry density, compressive strength, chloride and sulfate concentration, and carbonation depth. The results of the survey suggest that some of the buildings have inadequate low compressive strength, excessive high concentrations of chloride and sulfate, and high depths of carbonation. It is recommended that, among other things, concrete structures in Kuwait and in the Gulf region should be built with a concrete compressive strength not less than 30 MPa.