How do you design for durability and serviceability without encountering common pitfalls?

1 Define your criteria

The first step in designing for durability and serviceability is to define your criteria and expectations for the project. This means identifying the functional requirements, the environmental conditions, the loading patterns, the expected service life, and the acceptable levels of deterioration and damage. You should also consider the relevant codes, standards, and regulations that apply to your project, and how they affect your design choices and methods. By defining your criteria clearly and realistically, you can avoid overdesigning or underdesigning your project, and ensure that it meets the needs and expectations of the stakeholders.

2 Choose your materials

The next step is to choose your materials wisely, based on your criteria and the available options. You should select materials that have suitable properties and characteristics for the project, such as strength, stiffness, durability, corrosion resistance, fire resistance, thermal expansion, and so on. You should also consider the compatibility and interaction of different materials, and how they affect each other's performance and durability. For example, you should avoid using incompatible metals that can cause galvanic corrosion, or using concrete with high alkali content that can react with some aggregates. You should also check the quality and reliability of your materials, and avoid using substandard or defective materials that can compromise your design.

3 Design your details

The third step is to design your details carefully, taking into account the structural behavior, the stress distribution, the load transfer, the crack control, the reinforcement placement, and the joint configuration. You should design your details to minimize the potential for cracking, corrosion, fatigue, buckling, spalling, and other forms of deterioration and damage. You should also design your details to facilitate the inspection, monitoring, repair, and maintenance of your project, and to ensure its serviceability under normal and extreme conditions. For example, you should provide adequate cover and protection for your reinforcement, avoid sharp corners and discontinuities that can cause stress concentrations, and use proper detailing and anchorage for your connections and joints.

4 Consider your environment

The fourth step is to consider your environment and how it affects your design for durability and serviceability. You should analyze the environmental factors that can influence the performance and degradation of your project, such as temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind, sunlight, soil, water, chemicals, biological agents, and so on. You should also consider the exposure conditions and the frequency and intensity of the environmental actions. Based on your analysis, you should adjust your design parameters and methods accordingly, to ensure that your project can withstand and resist the environmental effects. For example, you should use materials and details that can cope with freeze-thaw cycles, salt spray, acid rain, or microbial attack.

5 Test your design

The fifth step is to test your design and verify its durability and serviceability. You should conduct various tests and experiments to evaluate the performance and behavior of your materials, details, and structures under different conditions and loads. You should also compare your test results with your design criteria and expectations, and check for any discrepancies or errors. You should also use the test results to calibrate and validate your design models and assumptions, and to improve your design methods and techniques. By testing your design, you can ensure that it meets the requirements and standards for durability and serviceability, and that it can perform as intended.

6 Monitor your project

The final step is to monitor your project and assess its durability and serviceability over time. You should implement a monitoring system that can collect and analyze data on the condition and performance of your project, such as cracks, deflections, strains, stresses, corrosion, deterioration, and so on. You should also inspect and evaluate your project regularly, and identify any signs of damage or distress. You should also perform preventive and corrective maintenance actions, and repair or replace any defective or damaged components. By monitoring your project, you can ensure that it remains durable and serviceable throughout its service life, and that it can cope with any changes or challenges.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?