Verification of durability of new and existing structures through the design, construction and operational phases

Model Code 2010 made a step forward in introducing durability models for the probabilistic calculation of design service life. The accumulated experience has allowed the improvement of these models and the introduction of some advances in MC2020. In particular their application to not only new structures, but also to existing ones, with the models serving both circumstances. MC2020 sets the traditional requirements concerning safety and serviceability within an overarching sustainability and performance‐based approach framework, which are major requirements. The main novelties concerning durability design introduced in MC2020 can be summarized as: (a) Guidance on the treatment of a wider range of mechanisms of deterioration which may potentially affect concrete structures, including the simultaneous action of some of these, (b) The classification of the ways of verification into “Levels of Approximation” (LoA), and (c) The definition of what has been called the “Condition or Deterioration” Limit state (CLS or DLS). The paper explains these aspects and chloride penetration is illustrated as a case example.