COWI and European Research Projects

DuraCrete“Probabilistic Performance BasedDurability Design of ConcreteStructures” (1996 - 1999)(12 partners)The objective of DuraCrete is to useavailable knowledge of concrete deteriorationthrough scientificallybased modelling of the transportand deterioration mechanisms governingthe service life performanceof concrete structures. This includesa quantified classification of the aggressivityof different types of environment.Chloride induced and carbonationinduced reinforcementcorrosion have been the most advancedmechanisms in the modelling.The project resulted in the publicationof a design guide for servicelife. It adopted the probabilistic approachby introducing the uncertaintiesof the input parameters andtheir distribution functions. Theunique development is that the servicelife design approach is identicalto the well-known method of designingstructures for load, whichthen has been simplified to the socalledload-and-resistance-factor-design(LRFD) methodology. In thesame way the DuraCrete approachcan be presented in the frameworkof an LFRD procedure, just for designservice life.DuraCrete has been adopted asservice life design basis for:• The large Dutch Tunnels includingthe world record Green HeartTunnel• The Malmø City Tunnel in Sweden• The world record Sutong cablestayed bridge in China• The Sitra Causeway, Bahrain• The Busan-Geoje Fixed Link with aworld record deep immersed tunneland the bridges• The Subaya Causeway, Kuwait• The tender design of the Qatar-Bahrain Causeway• The tender proposal for the DubaiMetroCOWI was the key proposer and thescientific manager of the DuraCreteproject.Importance ofconcrete coverdesign thicknessand workmanship. DuraNet“Network for Supporting theDevelopment and Application ofPerformance-Based DurabilityDesign and Assessment ofConcrete Structures” (1998-2001)(18 partners)The recognised success of the Dura-Crete Project led the EuropeanCommission to grant support for establishinga special internationalnetwork to disseminate the valuablepossibilities of applying the Dura-Crete service life design methodologieson an international level.DuraNet organised three internationalworkshops with only invitedexperts. The participants were the18 members and a small number ofspecially invited experts handpickedin the light of the topic of eachworkshop. The titles, dates and venueof the workshops were:• WS-1: “Design of Durability ofConcrete”, which took place inJune 1999 in Berlin, Germany.• WS-2: “Service Life of RepairedConcrete Structures”, which tookplace in June 2000 in Copenhagen,Denmark.• WS-3: “Service Life Design ofConcrete Structures - From Theoryto Standardisation”, whichtook place in June 2001 inTromsø, Norway.