Concrete is a man-made material that is most used in the world today.

It has a world-wide
production of 35 up to 53 billion tons in 2014. It has become a necessity in our modern society. It is
widely used because of its high compressive strength, durability, low cost and its ability to shape into
any form. Concrete is often combined with steel to construct columns, beams and long spans. Through
this, concrete can be applied in many structures like floors and walls of the buildings, infrastructure of
bridges, roads, dams, even power plants and can also be applied in art like statues. It can be a material
with a long life span like buildings from Roman times that still exist today.

Usage of concrete comes with disadvantages. It brings a large impact in the environment. 5% to
7% release of CO2 comes from the cement industry. An excess of CO2 causes climate change, unbalance
the environment and threaten most living organisms. Another one is that it is water consuming. Several
solutions were addressed to these issues like using recycled materials, reuse of water and improve the
durability of the material properties of concrete.

Durability has been one of the major concerns in the construction industry throughout the
years. It is defined through the ability of concrete to overcome chemical attacks and maintain its
engineering properties. Concrete can decay overtime due to shrinkage, freezing or thawing, and other
aggressive agents. Safety and being cost efficient should be fulfilled by the concrete. If not, repair,
maintenance or destruction will be needed. The major concern in the concretes durability is that for it
to have a low cost while still having a high performance. This is not easily assessed because it depends
on where the concrete is exposed to and on its purpose. In structures like highways and tunnels
maintenance or regular checking can be difficult and expensive.

Concrete has high compressive strength but has low tensile strength. Additional reinforcement
is needed to bear the tensile loads and prevent cracking. The existence of cracks can reduce the
durability of concrete that can lead to damage of reinforcement since it is exposed to harmful particles.