Service Life Enhancement: Exploring the Effects of Supplementary Cementitious Materials on RC Structures in Marine and Urban Contexts

Reinforced concrete (RC) structures stand as the cornerstone of modern construction due to their cost-effectiveness and widespread availability. The most predeterminant factor for the deterioration of RC structure is due to the corrosion of reinforcement. This review paper comprehensively explores the occurrence and degradation mechanism of reinforced concrete (RC) structures when exposed to adverse environmental conditions, i.e., marine, or urban environments. Corrosion of reinforcement takes place when RC structures are exposed to a marine environment (chloride ion penetration) or urban environment (carbonation). The study explores the mechanism of corrosion of reinforcement, corrosion products in detail. Furthermore, the review highlights the effects of supplementary cementitious materials such as ground granulated blast furnace slag, fly ash, and silica fume on the above adverse environmental conditions based on analysis of existing literature, including laboratory studies and real-world exposure data. The insights provided aim to enhance the understanding of service life prediction for RC structures and contribute to more durable construction practices.