Concrete cores were extracted from 50 buildings situated from 0.5 to 1
8 km from the coast of tile Stare of Kuwait. The buildings considered
were located near and away from the oil fires. Concrete properties suc
h as density compressive strength, and depth of carbonation are report
ed in this paper. The 1991 Kuwait oil well fires do not seem to have c
aused any additional damage to the concrete structures. The results of
this investigation, however suggest that coastal structures in hot ex
posure and climatic conditions of Kuwait result in higher carbonation
depth than the near-coastal buildings. it is recommended, on the basis
of the results of this survey, that coastal and near-coastal reinforc
ed concrete structures should be built in Kuwait with concrete compres
sive strength of at least 40 and 30 MPa, respectively.