A Quantitative Assessment of Maintenance Strategies on the Durability of Reinforced Concrete: A Comparative Case Study
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Urban reinforced concrete structures in tropical environments are highly vulnerable to carbonation-induced deterioration, particularly when maintenance practices are neglected. This study compares the durability performance of the National Museum of Fine Arts and Manila City Hall to evaluate how proactive and reactive maintenance strategies affect structural integrity and public safety. Using a desk-based quantitative framework, the research applied the Square-Root-of-Time model derived from Fick’s Second Law of Diffusion to estimate carbonation depth and deterioration progression. Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) risks were also assessed through kinetic energy modelling of potential concrete spalling debris. Results indicated that the National Museum of Fine Arts maintained a lower carbonation depth of 27.7 mm, remaining below the critical reinforcement cover limit, while Manila City Hall reached 54.4 mm, signifying active reinforcement corrosion and deterioration. Hazard analysis further showed that Manila City Hall generated a higher impact energy potential of 490.50 J compared to 245.25 J for the National Museum. The findings confirm that proactive maintenance significantly slows carbonation progression, preserves reinforcement protection, and minimizes public safety risks. The study emphasizes that the long-term durability of reinforced concrete structures depends more on preventive maintenance quality than on structural age alone.
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