Chemo-mechanical effects in mortar beams subjected to water hydrolysis

Reliable predictions of the long-term behavior of concrete structures requi re both an accurate knowledge of the various degradation mechanisms that af fect the structures over their lifetime and the use of simulation tools. Le aching due to aggressive water can be responsible for a loss of mechanical properties and stability of concrete structures. This paper focuses on coup led chemo-mechanical effects on concrete structures subjected to aggressive water inducing calcium leaching, Experimental investigations on mol tar be nding beams and their analysis are detailed. The response of leached mortar beams is deduced from these tests. It is found that the stiffness of morta r decreases, along with its strength, as the chemical attack progresses. Th e size effect on geometrically similar bending beams at various stages of d egradation is studied experimentally. Due to leaching, the brittleness of t he structures is increased and the fracture energy decreases.