Lifetime prediction of damaged or cracked concrete structures: A review

Limited by their material characteristics and the influence of complex environmental factors, a significant number of concrete structures in service often experience cracking. These cracks have a direct impact on the service life of concrete structures, particularly when exposed to erosive environmental conditions or repeated loads. This paper systematically reviews and compares the deterioration mechanisms, life prediction research methods, and prediction models for damaged or cracked concrete structures under complex erosion environments such as carbonation, chloride salt, freeze-thaw, and sulfate attack. The application status and advantages of fatigue crack propagation theory in predicting the fatigue life of cracked concrete structures are described, and various life prediction methods and models based on this theory are summarized. In addition, this study summarizes and discusses the life prediction methods of cracked concrete structures under the combined effects of erosion environment and fatigue. The current issues in the existing research on predicting the lifespan of damaged or cracked concrete structures (CCS) are identified, and recommendations for future research directions are proposed.