Author(s)

A. Hellebois & B. Espion

Abstract

Our study focuses on the material properties of a 107-year-old reinforced concrete viaduct, called viaduct of Colo-Hugues, in Braine-l’Alleud (near Brussels, Belgium), designed by the well known Hennebique’s office in 1904. Parameters investigated include determination of the concrete strength by means of Schmidt rebound hammer tests correlated with compression of core samples, Young modulus, carbonation depth with phenolphthalein semi-destructive and destructive testing and concrete permeability. This experimental research was performed to analyse the influence between the results of carbonation depth and the compressive strength for the first generation of reinforced concrete through a representative case study. Keywords: material characterisation, modern heritage, historic reinforced concrete, Hennebique system. 1 Introduction The pathologies affecting reinforced concrete (r.c.) structures are similar and identifiable in many constructions independently of their dates of construction. However, design methods and execution technologies have extensively changed from the first applications of reinforced concrete elements at the turn of the 20th century until now. To the best of our knowledge, little has been published on the mechanical and physical properties of reinforced concrete built before the 1st World War [1, 2]. However, the durability issues constitute crucial questions requiring urgent answers for properly preserving this early reinforced concrete heritage.

Keywords

material characterisation, modern heritage, historic reinforced concrete, Hennebique system