A basic understanding of the underlying causes of concrete deficiencies is essential to performing meaningful evaluations which lead to the proper selection of the method or technique used to successfully repair concrete. Symptoms or observations of a deficiency must be differentiated from the actual cause of the deficiency, and it is imperative that causes and not symptoms be addressed in repairs. Deterioration of concrete is an extremely complex subject since, in most cases, the damage detected will be the result of more than one mechanism.

In this course, the student will review Chapter 3, Causes of Distress and Deterioration of Concrete from Engineer Manual (EM) 1110-2-2002, “Engineering and Design – Evaluation and Repair of Concrete Structures” published by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (issued 30 June 1995). This course is most relevant to engineers wishing to attain knowledge on the most common causes of problems in concrete. The course also provides a brief description of the basic mechanism of each common problem, a description of the typical symptoms that would be observed during a visual inspection, and suggests preventative methods or techniques to prevent further damage.

SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE OR SKILL OBTAINED

This course teaches the following specific knowledge and skills:

• Common causes of concrete deterioration
• Symptoms of concrete distress and deterioration that can be found during visual inspections
• Preventative measures to reduce or eliminate further concrete degradation.

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION

You will be able to immediately print a certificate of completion after passing a 10 question multiple-choice quiz. The quiz can be retaken unlimited times until a passing grade of 70% or better is earned. This course satisfies 2 professional development hours (PDH) of continuing education.