Long-Term Exposure: Support for Management

Book chapter, 2026

Concrete infrastructure, including bridges, ports, piers, and coastal buildings, is subjected to environmental actions from seawater exposure, the physical and chemical effects of salt, wind, and temperature fluctuations. These actions can accelerate the corrosion of embedded steel in structural concretes, and ensuring the durability of concretes in marine environments is critical for keeping the service life of structures. Durability data plays a crucial role in supporting the effective management and maintenance of these structures over time, ensuring their durability, safety, and cost-effectiveness. This chapter reviews case studies where concrete structures have been exposed to marine environments and long-term exposure data have been collected and analysed systematically. In total, five cases from China, Cuba, Denmark and Spain in marine environments are presented with their data collection on chloride profiles, strength, and concrete covers with the aim of providing support to long-term maintenance and management.