Concrete properties of a 1904 Hennebique reinforced concrete viaduct

Abstract

Our study focuses on the material properties of a 107-year-old reinforced concrete viaduct, called viaduct of Colo-Hugues, in Braine-l'Alleud (near Brussels, Belgium), designed by the well known Hennebique's office in 1904. Parameters investigated include determination of the concrete strength by means of Schmidt rebound hammer tests correlated with compression of core samples, Young modulus, carbonation depth with phenolphthalein semi-destructive and destructive testing and concrete permeability. This experimental research was performed to analyse the influence between the results of carbonation depth and the compressive strength for the first generation of reinforced concrete through a representative case study. © 2011 WIT Press.