Glossary of Terms

A comprehensive guide to Concrete Repairs Terms

1st Edition December 2014

Additional characteristics Characteristics for specific service conditions where enhanced levels are
required.

Adhesion strength Maximum strength per unit surface area, which can be measured by
shear or tensile testing. It is measured following EN 1348:1997, EN 1324
or EN 12003:1997 depending on the type of adhesive.

Adhesive A polymeric material which is capable of holding two materials together

by surface attachment

Alkali Silica Reaction Alkali Silica Reaction (ASR) is a reaction which occurs, over time in
concrete, between the high alkaline cement paste and reactive non-
crystalline silica which can be found in aggregates. This reaction causes
the formation of an expansive gel which exerts internal pressure within
the concrete, which, in sufficient quantity can disrupt the matrix of the
concrete causing a characteristic 'map' cracking pattern to its surface.
The elimination of moisture can help to control the reaction. ASR has
been called Concrete Cancer by the UK press.

Anisotropic A material is anisotropic when any of its physical properties vary in

different principle direction, i.e. unidirectional pultruded plates have high
longitudinal strength but low transverse strength.

Anti carbonation coating A decorative, protective coating applied to the surface of concrete and
provide resistance against CO2 and reducing the rate of carbonation,
both on new structures and also as part of a remedial repair strategy.

Appropriate Person The freeholder and if different the person in legal occupation

AR Alkali resistant fibres.

Aramid A manufactured fibre in which the fibre-forming substance consists of a

long chain synthetic aromatic poly amide. The resulting fibre is extremely
resistant to mechanical damage.

Arris A sharp edge formed at the intersection of 2 surfaces.

BBA British Board of Agrement.

Bi-directional Fibres aligned and woven in two directions to provide a fine mesh sheet
of fibres.

Bond The adhesion of the applied product or system to the substrate

Bonding bridge A thin layer material to improve the adhesion between an existing
concrete substrate and a subsequent mortar being applied to it, and
preventing the rapid drying of the mortar at the substrate interface.

Break out The removal of structurally damaged or chemically effected concrete

prior to repair.

Capillaries Defects left in the surface of hardened concrete as water evaporates

during the hardening process.

Carbon fibre Fibres produced by the pyrolysis of organic precursor fibres such as
rayon, polyacrylonitrile (PAN) or pitch in an inert atmosphere.

Carbonation The process where carbonic acid, created by the combination of carbon
dioxide and water present within the atmosphere, neutralises the
alkaline environment of the concrete, from the surface inwards. Whilst
the carbonation process has minimal effect on the structural
characteristics of the concrete, it does reduce the pH, and can if allowed
to reach the steel reinforcement lead to the loss of passivation the
alkaline environment provides, and active corrosion of the steel can
commence.

Carbonation and Chlorides The process of carbonation in a concrete containing chlorides is

potentially much more serious. This occurs because the carbonation
process effectively releases the chemically bound chloride leaving it free
to attack the reinforcing steel. It can be seen that the carbonation can
thus be a trigger for chloride attack. This form of chloride attack
frequently occurs just ahead of the carbonation front.

Carbonation Front The progress of carbonation moving into concrete. This occurs as an
irregular front as concrete isn't truly homogenous, in an approximate
reverse exponential advance with time, and depends on the quality of
the concrete.

Cast in Chlorides Cast in chlorides tend to be present in the UK historically in precast

concrete construction where they are derived form the use of calcium
chloride based accelerating admixtures commonly used in the 1960's.
They could also of course be present due to contaminated ingredients,
such as for instance marine dredged aggregates. This form of chloride
contamination tends to combine with the hydration products of cement,
and hence tends to exist in a substantially chemically bound condition.

Cement Grout Mixture of cement, water and in some cases admixtures

Cementitious A material whose primary binder is cement.

Cementitious adhesive (C ) A mixture of hydraulic binding agents, aggregates and organic additives.
The adhesives are mixed with water or liquid admix just before use.
Cementitious grout (CG) A mixture of hydraulic binding agents, aggregates, inorganic and organic
additives. The grout has only to be mixed with water or liquid admix just
before use.

Cementitious repair products and systems Hydraulic or polymer hydraulic mortars, concretes and grouts
Characteristic Property A chemical or physical property that helps identify and classify a material.
Methods of measurement vary for different materials and are often
defined by relevant standards for that particular application.

Chemical resistance The capability of a material to resist chemical agents. It is measured

according to EN 1208-1.

Chloride Contamination
The presence of chlorides ions within concrete due either to cast in
chlorides at the time of construction or because they have penetrated
the concrete after construction. When dissolved in water sodium chloride
forms a highly corrosive solution of sodium ions and chloride ions. The
chloride ions can diffuse through concrete pores and capillaries in
solution and attack the passivizing layer protecting the steel
reinforcement which leads to often intensive pitting corrosion. It should
be noted that it is the free chloride ion content of concrete that dictates
the vulnerability to chloride attack. It isn't possible to easily specify a
chloride content below which corrosion won't be initiated as there are
many other factors to take into account.

Coating Treatment to produce a continuous layer on the surface of concrete. The

thickness is typically 0.1mm to 5.0mm. Particular applications may
require a thickness greater than 5.0mm.

Cohesive Strength The ability a rigid material has to resist force in tension before an internal
fracture occurs.

Compressive strength The maximum value of a grout prism failure determined by exerting a
force in compression on two opposite points. It is measured according to
EN12803-3.

Cover depth The minimum distance between the surface of steel reinforcement and
the outer layer of concrete

Cover meter A hand held, test instrument to locate the position and depth of steel
reinforcement within concrete on existing structures.

CRFP Carbon fibre reinforced polymer.

Declared value A value that a manufacturer is confident in achieving, bearing in mind the
precision of test and variability of process, and testing in laboratory
environment

De-lamination The failure of a system at one of the layers building up the construction,
often at the interface between them.
Designed rendering/plastering mortar A mortar whose composition and manufacturing method is chosen by the
producer in order to achieve specified properties (performance concept)

Dew Point Temperature at which water vapour condenses.

Dry film thickness (DFT) The thickness of a surface applied coating after it has fully dried. Usually
measured in microns.

E value See Young's modules

Efflorescence The formation of a white powder on the surface due to the drying of a
crystalline hydrate.

Elongation Elastic or plastic extension of a structural member under tension,

expressed as % strain of the member.

Epoxy resin adhesive Resins which may be of widely different structure but which are
characterised by the reaction of the epoxy group to form a cross linked
hard resin.

Factory-made rendering/plastering mortar A mortar batched and mixed in a factory. It may be "dry mortar" which is
ready mixed only requiring the addition of water or "wet mortar" which
is supplied ready for use.

Feather Edge Where the thickness of a material tapers down to a thin layer at its edge.
Due to the grading of repair materials this can be difficult to achieve and
can leave a weak edge to the material.

Final coat The last coat, decorative or not, or a multi-coat rendering or plastering
system.

Fire Damage Concrete damaged by fire can often successfully be repaired, after the
concrete condition has been assessed. It is generally assumed that
concrete heated above 300C has lost all its strength and in many cases,
depending on aggregate type, this temperature will coincide with a
change of colour of the concrete to red/pink, thus identifying the
boundary for damage and the need for repair. A physical assessment
should also always be carried out, to confirm the extent of the
structurally damaged concrete.

Flexural strength The maximum value of a grout prism failure determined by exerting a
force in flexure at three points. It is measured according to BS 4551-1.

Flowable Repair Concrete A prebagged, micro concrete material that when mixed with water will
become highly viscous and can be poured into prepared voids.

Friable A substrate or fixing surface that is soft and can be easily scraped away
with a knife.
Frost Damage The deterioration of concrete due to freeze thaw action caused when
concrete pores are saturated with water and subsequently freezes and
whilst doing so expands causing internal pressure on the concrete and
surface damage, in the form of pop outs and a generally friable surface.
Reduction in aesthetics, structural integrity and cover to steel
reinforcement can occur if preventative measures are not taken.

FRP Fibre reinforced polymer.

Fundamental characteristics (1) Characteristics for specific service conditions where enhanced levels of
performance.

Fundamental characteristics (2) Characteristics that the material absolutely has to have.

Glass fibre A fibre spun from an inorganic product of fusion which has cooled to a
rigid condition without crystallising

Grit blast The propulsion of an abrasive material against a surface under high
pressure to roughen a smooth surface or remove surface contamination.

Hammer test The use of a hammer to survey a concrete structure to identify all loose
and delaminated concrete, by tapping the surface and listening to the
audible response.

Hand Placed Repair A prebagged, cementitous, material that when mixed with water, will
allow placement by hand applied methods into areas of damaged
concrete that have been prepared in the correct way

Health Check Periodic examination of concrete structure often including at lease a

detailed visual examination, as well as tests for cover depth, carbonation,
chlorides, and possibly also include tests for HAC, sulphates, ASR and
any other tests deemed necessary.

High Alumina Cement (HAC)
The High Alumina Cement (HAC) form of cement differs from ordinary
portland cement (OPC) as it is composed of calcium aluminates rather
than calcium silicates, its rapid strength development made it popular
from 1950 to 1970 particularly in the precasting industry. However,
subsequently it was discovered that mineralogical 'conversion' due
certain temperature and moisture conditions causes drastic and often
unacceptable reductions in strength and an increased vulnerability to
chemical attack.

Homogeneous Used to define a material which has a smooth variation of properties

with no discontinuities or jumps.

Honeycombing An area of hardened concrete where the cement binder and fine
aggregates are absent leaving a 'Stoney' patch within the concrete.
Hoop stress The tension which occurs in circular structural components, where the
load is carried wholly by ring tension, normally seen in liquid retaining
structures or highly loaded columns.

Hydraulic mortars and hydraulic concrete Mortars or concrete based on a hydraulic binder which is blended
(CC) together with graded aggregates and may include admixtures and
additions which, when mixed with mortar, set by hydrated reaction.

Hydrophobic Impregnation Treatment of concrete to produce a water repellent surface. The pores
and capillaries are not filled, but only lined. The visual appearance
remains nearly unaffected.

IAB Irish Agrement Board

Impregnation The treatment of concrete to reduce surface porosity and to strengthen

the surface. The pores and capillaries are partly or totally filled. Usually
the treatment results in a discontinuous thin film of 10 µm to 100 µm
thickness on the concrete surface.

Insurance-backed guarantee (IBG) An independent insurance policy that underwrites the installer's
guarantee. If the contractor ceases to trade the insurers will take the
place of the guarantee for the remaining term of cover.

Laitance Generally referring to concrete. A thin cement rich skin of material that
has been brought to the surface by trowelling or vibration while placing.

Latent defect A defect that remains undiscovered at the time of practical completion
but which results in actual physical damage later. It could be the result of
a failure either in materials used or in the application of those materials.

Latent defects guarantee A guarantee that meets the cost of rectifying defects in materials or
workmanship, or error or omission in design, which are not apparent
when a project is finished, but which come to light later.

Leakage The penetration of fluid through structural defects within concrete,

normally cracks or joints, causing potential long term issues and
undesirable long term issues especially if salts are present. Can be
penetration of fluid into an existing structure such as ground water or
loss of fluid from a fluid retaining structure. A verity of remedial actions
are available depending on the exact situation.

Levelling Material A thin layer render to repair minor defects and used to provide a smooth
pore free surface prior to the application of decorative protective
coatings.

Liquid admix or latex additive Special aqueous polymer dispersion to be mixed with a cementitious
grout on site.
Maturing time The interval between the time when the cementitious material is mixed
and the time when it is ready for use.

Mechanical Damage Physical damage to concrete commonly caused by vehicular of industrial

plant impact, but can include abrasion, often leading to structural
damage, reduction in cover to reinforcement, and reduced aesthetic
appearance. On precast elements damage can be caused during the
erection process. Any repair strategy should also include protection from
subsequent damage.

Migrating Corrosion Inhibitor (MCI)
A liquid applied to the surface of hardened concrete that penetrates via
the pores and capillaries within the concrete and provides a protective
monomolecular layer on the surface of the steel reinforcement, either
delaying the onset of corrosion or reducing the subsequent rate of
corrosion.

Modulus of elasticity See Young's modulus.

Mortars or concrete Hydraulic, polymer hydraulic and polymer mortar and concrete

Passivation Protection of steel reinforcement against corrosion created by the highly

alkali environment within concrete

Penetrating Chlorides
Penetrating chlorides can be present from a variety of sources such as
de-icing salts on trafficked surfaces, spray and leakage of de-icing salts,
marine environments, salt laden air in coastal areas, as well as influences
such as industrial processes. This form of chloride contamination tends
to be present in a free ion form. The amount of chloride present in
concrete from external contamination is ever increasing with time, as is
the depth of penetration.

Polyester Synthetic polymers formed by reaction between diacids and dialcohols

and used to manufacture fibres.

Polymer hydraulic cement mortars and Blended mixture of polymer binder and graded aggregate which set by
concrete (PC) polymerisation reaction.

Pore Hole Filler A material designed to fill the pores and capillaries in the surface of the
concrete.

Pores Defects left in the surface of hardened concrete due to air within wet
concrete at the time of placement being trapped against formwork and
not being able to escape before hardening has commenced.

Post-Tensioning The use of tendons to apply a compression force to a structure after

initial construction.
Pot life The maximum time interval during which the adhesive or grout can be
used after mixing.

Preformed hole Hole or slot formed or cut in concrete into which reinforcement or other
fixing is to be anchored.

Pre-stressed Fibres aligned in one direction and placed in tension during manufacture.
Prime Treat substrate or reinforcement with an adhesion promoting and
protective coating, often in the form of a cementitious coating, to
provide an alkaline environment at the surface of any steel
reinforcement.

Pultruded CFRP Plates manufactured under pultrusion, by pulled carbon fibres through a
heated resin matrix and through a heated steel mould to form plates of
known thickness and in continuous lengths.

Pultrusion A continuous process for the manufacture of composite profiles by

pulling layers of fibres impregnated with a thermoset resin through a
heated die, thus forming the ultimate shape of the finished profile.

Quality plan A programme to ensure that the activities of a process are undertaken to
the intended design.

Removal Removing of contaminated, damaged and or sound parts of the

substrate.

Renovation mortar A designed rendering/plastering mortar used on moist masonry walls

containing water-soluble salts. These mortars have a high porosity and
vapour permeability and reduced capillary action.

Roughening Removal of the substrate by removing matter of the substrate to a

maximum of 15mm
Roughness The degree of irregularity of a surface

Sacrificial anode A zinc based anode which can be installed as part of a concrete repair
strategy which will corrode preferentially to the adjacent steel
reinforcement preventing galvanic corrosion protection.

Saw Cut A cut placed in the concrete usually using a diamond or abrasive blade to
provide a square edge around a repair area and avoid a feather edge to a
repair material.

Scabble To remove or roughen the surface layer of a substrate with the use of
tools that employ multiple vibrating chisels or needles.

Service time The minimum time interval after which the product installation can be
put into service.
Shelf life The time of storage under stated conditions during which a material may
be expected to maintain its working properties.

Shrinkage The reduction in length of a grout prism during hardening. It is measured

according to EN 12808-4.

Site-made rendering/plastering mortar A mortar composed of individual constituents batched and mixed on the
building site.

Smoothing coat/levelling mortar A coating applied to a surface to fill voids, cracks and cavities or to level
an uneven surface (typically cementitious). The purpose is to prepare the
surface for the application of protection systems.

Spall An area where a piece of concrete has been broken off the main body of
a concrete element. Often caused by internal forces within the concrete
such as expansive corrosion of steel reinforcement.

Spray fog Airborne debris resulting from the application of sprayed concrete or
mortar which may form an unwanted coat on the substrate

Sprayed Concrete,Gunite, Shotcrete Sprayed Concrete is an all inclusive term that describes concrete or
mortar conveyed through a hose and pneumatically projected at high
velocity onto a surface. Gunite and Shotcrete are terms which were used,
incorrectly, to distinguish dry-mix and wet-mix Sprayed Concrete

Sprayed mortar or concrete Mortar or concrete delivered through hoses and applied under
pneumatic pressure through a nozzle

Substrate The surface on which a protection or repair material is to be applied

Suction The force that draws water or liquid into a substrate or tile.

Sulphates The presence of sulphates in above ground concrete construction in the

UK is most frequently due to external contamination such as industrial
sources. In sufficient quantity sulphates break down the binding qualities
of cement by chemical attack, which will ultimately result in a dangerous
loss of strength.

Tensile Strength The maximum tensile stress a material can withstand before being
deformed or breaking.

Thermosetting resin Resin which, once formed in their final moulded state, are infusible and
insoluble, thermo cured and stable.

UKAS United Kingdom Assessment Service.

Unidirectional Fibres aligned in the same, single direction.

Volume Solids The ratio of the non-volatile components present in the total volume of a
surface applied coating.
Wet film thickness (WFT) The thickness of a surface applied coating before drying has started.
Measurement of WFT allows the final thickness of the fully dried coating
to be calculated based on the volume solids of that particular coating.

Wet on wet Application of a cementitious mortar or concrete onto the surface of a

similar material which has set but not hardened.

Wrap Fibre reinforced materials manufactured in pliable sheets and wrapped

around structures to provide reinforcement and containment against
bursting stresses through bending, shear or impact damage.

Young's Modulus Modulus of elasticity, E value, represents the stiffness for any material,
being the ratio of the force per unit area (stress) to the elongation per
unit length (strain), expressed in units of stress, kN/mm², and consistent
up to the yield point.

December 2014

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