On-demand Webinar

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This webinar was co-sponsored by ASCE's Structural Engineering Institute and ASCE Continuing Education

Instructor:  Alexander Newman, P.E., F.ASCE

Course Length: 1.5 Hours

Purpose and Background

According to the results of a 2002 study, the total annual estimated direct cost of corrosion in the United States is a staggering $276 billion – approximately 3.1 percent of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP)! As design and construction professionals, we are primarily concerned with degradation of construction materials, and our efforts in this area could be improved. This webinar outlines the practical steps that can prolong the lives of our structures.

The effects of corrosion and deterioration on construction materials are far from being fully understood by everyone, and there are many everyday questions on these topics. For example: Under which circumstances will stainless steel corrode? Does dry rot affect the hardwoods? Why do the steel fasteners tend to corrode quickly in pressure-treated lumber? Can corrosion of reinforcing bars in concrete be stopped? These and many other practical questions are answered in the presentation.

The instructor explains how corrosion and deterioration start and progress in various construction materials and which practices are available to control these pernicious effects. The discussion covers common structural materials, such as metals, concrete, masonry, and wood. Based on three decades of design, construction, and forensic experience, the instructor offers a clear-eyed commentary on the cost-effectiveness of the various solutions and suggests the optimal mitigation approaches for various circumstances.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

  • Identify the main causes of material degradation
  • Become familiar with the basic methods of mitigating the effects of corrosion and deterioration in construction materials

Seminar Benefits

  • Explore the typical causes of degradation in wood structures
  • Recognize the potential for metals corrosion in many widely used design details and learn how to improve these details
  • Discover which unwise construction techniques can greatly accelerate corrosion of reinforcement in concrete
  • Find out where not to use a common masonry material
  • Understand which chemical is responsible for fastener corrosion in pressure-treated lumber, and which practical steps can be taken to mitigate the problem

Assessment of Learning Outcomes

Students' achievement of the learning outcomes will be assessed via a short post-assessment (true-false, multiple choice and fill in the blank questions).

Intended Audience

Structural and civil engineers, architects, and building officials seeking to learn about mitigating the effects of corrosion and deterioration in construction will benefit from this webinar.

Seminar Outline

  • Introduction
  • General reasons for deterioration of construction materials
  • Specific causes of deterioration and methods of their mitigation in:
    • Metals
    • Concrete
    • Masonry
    • Wood
  • Conclusion

How to Earn your CEUs/PDHs and Receive Your Certificate of Completion

To receive your certificate of completion, you will need to complete a short on-line post-test and receive a passing score of 70% or higher within 1 year of purchasing the course.

How do I convert CEUs to PDHs?

1.0 CEU = 10 PDHs [Example: 0.1 CEU = 1 PDH]