SERVICE LIFE DESIGN OF CONCRETE STRUCTURES - I A CHALLENGE TO DESIGNERS AS WELL AS TO OWNERS

Future demands for performance of concrete structures pose multidisciplinary challenges on the designer. He must master the integration of structural design, durability and service life design, and the rapidly growing demands for sustainability. However, such designs required to fulfil the long-term performance of structures poses also challenges to the owners or clients. They will have to define their service life demands in a factual and verifiable manner, and to agree to the acceptance criteria to be fulfilled. This new integrated approach to service life design of concrete structures identifies a new design procedure - a change in design paradigm-which shall be followed, if real improvements shall be achieved. The changes in design paradigm are not at all dramatic, but the consequences of adopting such changes may well be dramatic regarding improved performance, service life and reliability and will greatly increase the competitiveness of structural concrete. With this new perspective in mind such demands for service life designs will also reflect on revised engineering university curricular.