MECHANISMS OF HYDRO-ABRASIVE DAMAGE AND METHODS OF EXAMINATION OF HYDRO- ABRASIVE RESISTANCE OF CONCRETE IN HYDRAULIC STRUCTURES
Durability of hydraulic engineering structures in most part depends on the resistance of the concrete surface to mechanical abrasion. Hydro-abrasion represents a concrete surface damage caused by the impact of waterborne solid particles and effects of hydraulic forces on the concrete. This form of progressive deterioration of concrete surface occurs, to a varying extent, in almost all hydraulic engineering structures. Therefore, hydro-abrasion wear of concrete in general causes reduction of the service life of a hydraulic engineering structure, as well as an increase in operating costs due to the necessary maintenance, and the downtime of the structure during the repair period. Because of the complexity of the problem, a large number of parameters must be taken into consideration when the abrasion resistance of concrete is researched. A very important factor is the choice of the kind of abrasion stress, which will be used in the research. In this paper, some of the mechanisms of hydro-abrasive damage and testing methods of hydro-abrasive resistance of concrete was presented, with the critical review of the advantages and disadvantages of the testing equipment, in terms of simulated approximation of abrasion in a natural environment.