Concrete pathologies in sewer structures: microstructural analysis

Mehena Oualit (1) , Raoul Jauberthie (2) , M. Tahar Abadlia (1)

1 Unité de Recherche Matériaux, Procédés et Environement - URMPE (Boumerdès, Algérie)
2 LGCGM - Laboratoire de Génie Civil et Génie Mécanique

Corrosion of concrete sanitary sewers has become a major problem around the world. Concrete durability in sewerage systems is mainly related to the presence of effluents containing sulfur-rich compounds that lead to an acid attack and expansion reactions. This paper presents a microstructural analysis of concretes (two case studies) taken from corroded sewer pipes. The objective of this investigation is to highlight and identify the pathologies of cementitious materials in sanitation networks. A scanning electron microscope equipped with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDS) was performed on fragments of concrete samples taken at different areas. In addition to these microstructural analysis, bulk density and water-accessible porosity tests are performed, the results obtained were compared with those of a reference concrete (new pipe). The results of the analysis showed a deterioration of the pipes in both faces (internal and external) with the presence of products prejudicial for their durability.

Mots clés: durability; pathologies; SEM-EDS analysis; Concrete sewer; degradation

Domaines: Structures; Matériaux

Mehena Oualit, Raoul Jauberthie, M. Tahar Abadlia. Concrete pathologies in sewer structures: microstructural analysis. Journal of Building Pathology and Rehabilitation, 2019, 4 (1), pp.12. ⟨10.1007/s41024-019-0051-y⟩. ⟨hal-02473271⟩