Concrete cancer

• Rebar corrosion and spalling of the concrete cover above rebar caused by the rust expansion and accelerated by chloride attack and pitting corrosion of the steel reinforcements.
• Alkali–silica reaction, also known as alkali-aggregate reaction, when reactive amorphous silica aggregates exposed to alkaline conditions swell inside the concrete matrix leading to the development of a network of cracks.

• Sulfate attacks, an hat appellation covering different concrete degradation mechanisms:
• * Delayed ettringite formation, also known as internal sulfate attack when the temperature of fresh concrete exceeds 65 °C during its setting and hardening;
• * External sulfate attack, and;
• * Thaumasite form of sulfate attack.