Variations in Mass and Resistance Due to Accelerated Weathering Effects in Concrete Specimens Used in Low-income Housing

The reinforced concrete used for construction represents one of the most widely used materials in urban housing. In the case of coastal areas such as Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico, the behavior of the concrete elements used in housing differs from less aggressive environmental areas, as evidenced by the built heritage. This work presents results in relation to causes-effects of environmental loads such as humidity, temperature, solar radiation, acid rain and carbonation on specimens of hardened concrete with f'c of 20 and 25 MPa, especially in aspects such as variations in mass and durability and even decreased early resistance. The tested specimens show a variety of relationships that illustrate the effect of the studied parameters, before and after being subjected to accelerated weathering tests; additionally, durability aspects were considered on 6 slab models designed and built to microscopically visualize fissures in the exposed faces, registering mechanical resistance through periodic monitoring that is still maintained. The study showed that concrete with f´c of 20 MPa has greater mass losses and advances in the carbonation front after being exposed in an artificial accelerated aging chamber (AAA), as well as greater degradation when exposed to sulfuric acid, although with less adhesion of salts.