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Not to mention that concrete steel reinforcement is the main reason it doesn't last due to water eventually making its way and the rust taking expansion thus cr
by TeeMassive 5y ago
Not to mention that concrete steel reinforcement is the main reason it doesn't last due to water eventually making its way and the rust taking expansion thus cracking the concrete.
- rich_sasha 5y agoInteresting... we’re maybe a century or two into heavy use of reinforced concrete. Does it mean that eg the iconic buildings of Manhattan will eventually need knocking down and rebuilding?
- Ekaros 5y agoDepends on construction. Steel core buildings have different issues. But reinforced concrete structures certainly will. I think Manhattan in general is somewhat challenging environment, combination of temperatures going below freezing, being relatively wet at times and being near sea. Ofc, good maintenance can prolong the lifespans.
- ithkuil 5y agoWould the use of stainless steel address this problem? What other problems would it create?
- yourapostasy 5y agoStainless of the right grade to address the problem is project-killingly expensive. There is work on evaluating alternative kinds of reinforcement not subject to the same kinds of rust problems, but extremely few organizations today plan, build and maintain over the kinds of timescales where this comes into play. They'll give lip service to those timescales, but watch what they do with their budgets, not what they say.
- lstodd 5y agoWell, fiberglass rebar is used more and more. Its longevity has yet to be proven though.