Reinforced concrete durability: some recent developments in performance-based approaches

The paper deals with issues of durability in reinforced concrete. It briefly describes the shift from prescriptive specifications to performance-based specifications with an overview of the South African approach to durability design and specifications. An example is provided that illustrates the first large-scale implementation of the approach in a major infrastructure project. It was determined that the approach is useful and can evaluate the variability in the quality of concrete structures. Current challenges facing the durability approach include, inter alia, new cement types which appear to have different durability properties and for which little usage guidance is provided.