Premature distress in an Indian high rise: causes, lessons, and durability insights

It is truly overwhelming that, despite nearly a century of durability studies on reinforced cement concrete structures, new cases of premature distress most notably corrosion continue to emerge worldwide, highlighting the persistent challenges in ensuring long-term structural integrity. This paper examines a case study of a multistorey residential project in India, highlighting construction-phase failures that led to two high-rise buildings in the project being declared structurally unsafe and subsequently ordered for demolition. Significant findings from analysis of non-destructive testing revealed critical issues, including inadequate supervision, design flaws, poor workmanship, and probable use of chloride-contaminated water in mixing and curing. Drawing from global studies on similar failures, the paper underscores the need for improved quality control during construction. It advocates for in situ permeability testing of freshly placed cover concrete to assess its integrity early on. Implementing such measures can help detect potential durability issues at an early stage, allowing for corrective actions even during construction stage to be undertaken, before defects manifest later in the structure’s service life. This proactive approach can prevent costly repairs, retrofitting, or demolition, ensuring long-term structural performance and durability.