Inspections

Matergenics Performed A Condition Assessment On The Interior Concrete Walls And Floor Of A Power Plant In The Bahamas

The overall age of the structure is approximately 50 years. The power plant was recommissioned after a refurbishment. New generators were installed and since the plant has been operational, corrosion, cracking and spalling concrete has been observed in the above grade walls and in the basement walls and ceilings. We were requested to perform condition assessment of the aging concrete structure by onsite investigation, petrographic analysis, and corrosion risk assessment by corrosion potentials to determine the primary cause of the corrosion damage observed in this important power plant.

As concrete ages, changes in its properties will occur because of continuing microstructural changes (i.e., slow hydration, crystallization of amorphous constituents, and reactions between cement paste and aggregates), as well as environmental influences. These changes do not have to be detrimental to the point that concrete will not be able to meet its performance requirements. Concrete, however, can suffer unacceptable changes over time because of improper specifications, and nonconformance with original requirements, corrosion of reinforcement or adverse performance of its cement paste matrix or aggregate constituents under either physical overloading or corrosion attack.

Team Matergenics performed an emergency on-site investigation on April 19th, 20th and 21st using most advanced equipment and digital sensors. Our preliminary concrete testing, condition assessment in the basement of the plant both in North Wall (previous report identified as not affected), Main Floor, and South Wall exhibits extensive corrosion of rebar reinforcements. Many load bearing members including walls and beams exhibit cracking, spalling, and delaminating of concrete even in the repaired areas.