ANALYSIS OF AN EXISTING RC MARINE STRUCTURE: THE “TERRACE IN THE SEA”

Reinforced concrete is an excellent material for structures: it combines the efficiency in compression of the concrete with the efficiency in tension of the reinforcing steel. However it presents some problems as regards the durability, in particular when a structure is subjected to chemical attacks, determining not only the concrete degradation but also the steel corrosion. These types of attacks are prevalent in particular environments, like the marine one. The analysis of an existing RC marine structure, the “Terrace in the Sea”, built in Lignano Sabbiadoro (Italy) in the 1970, is here presented. The analysis of the degradation of the structure has been realized by means of: a) visual examinations, b) experiments on place: sclerometric tests, and determination of the presence of water into the structure, and c) laboratory tests: chemical analysis of the sea water, compressive tests on concrete and tensile tests on steel. The obtained conclusions are that the structure does not present structural damages: the degradation is due to the period of 36 years in a chemically aggressive environment. Hence the here proposed enhancements are addressed only to the restoration of the lack of durability due to the marine attacks.