ICRI Concrete Repair Terminology (C)
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Revised June 2015


- C -


containing calcium carbonate or, less generally, containing the element calcium.

calcium chloride

a white, deliquescent, hygroscopic compound, CaCl2; can be used, in various technical grades, as a drying agent, an accelerator, a deicing chemical, a refrigerant, and to prevent dust.

calomel electrode (SCE)

an electrode widely used as a reference electrode of known potential in electrometric measurement of acidity and alkalinity, corrosion studies, voltammetry, and measurement of the potentials of other electrodes.


the movement of a liquid in the interstices of concrete, soil, or other finely porous material due to surface tension.

capillary flow

flow of moisture through a capillary pore system, such as in concrete.

carbon fibers


the conversion of calcium ions in hardened cementitious materials to calcium carbonate by reaction with atmospheric carbon dioxide in the presence of water (sufficient humidity); carbonation reduces the pH of the concrete and its ability to protect reinforcing steel and embedded metal items from corrosion.


frequently used repair technique in which mortar, concrete, or other materials are deposited in workable condition in the place where they harden and become part of the structure.


a substance that significantly increases the rate of curing of a binder when added in a small quantity relative to the amount of primary reactants.

catalyst system

those materials that, in combination, cause chemical reactions to begin; catalyst systems normally consist of an initiator (catalyst) and an activator.


the electrode at which electrons are consumed and chemical reduction occurs; the area where electrons are flowing into the reinforcing steel.

cathodic inhibitor

a chemical substance that prevents or reduces the rate of the cathodic or reduction reaction.

cathodic protection

a form of corrosion protection for steel in reinforced concrete wherein sufficient current is distributed to the reinforcement, thereby protecting the reinforcement from corrosion.

cathodic protection, impressed current

a protection system that uses an external power supply to force a small amount of electric current through the reinforcing steel to counteract the flow of current caused by the corrosion process; a metal, such as platinum, niobium, coated titanium or a titanium sub-oxide that corrodes at a very slow rate, is typically provided as an anode.

cathodic protection, sacrificial

protection system that does not require an external power supply; a metal, such as zinc that is less noble or more prone to corrosion than steel, corrodes in place of the reinforcing steel thus protecting the structure.

cathodic reaction

electrode reaction equivalent to a transfer of negative charge from the electronic to the ionic conductor; a cathodic reaction is a reduction process.


a positively charged ion.


to install or apply a sealant across or into joints, cracks, or crevices to prevent the passage of air or water.

cavitation damage

pitting of concrete caused by implosion of water vapor bubbles in fast- flowing water; bubbles form in areas of subatmospheric pressures immediately downstream from an obstruction or offset and collapse as they enter areas of higher pressure.


any of a number of materials that are capable of binding aggregate particles together. (See also cement, hydraulic.)

cement, blended

a hydraulic cement essentially consisting of portland cement, slag cement, or both, uniformly mixed with each other or a pozzolan through intergrinding or blending

cement, calcium-aluminate

the product obtained by pulverizing clinker consisting essentially of hydraulic calcium aluminates resulting from fusing or sintering a suitably proportioned mixture of aluminous and calcareous materials; called high-alumina cement in the United Kingdom.

cement, expansive

a type of cement that produces a paste that, after setting, increases in volume to a significantly greater degree than does portland-cement paste; used in some repair materials to compensate for drying shrinkage.

cement, high-early-strength

Portland cement characterized by attaining a given level of strength in mortar or concrete earlier than does normal Portland cement; referred to in the United States as Type III.

cement, hydraulic

a binding material that sets and hardens by chemical reaction with water and is capable of doing so underwater. For example, Portland cement and slag cement are hydraulic cements.

cement, magnesium phosphate

a blend of magnesium oxide and ammonium dihydrogen phosphate that reacts with water, rapidly producing strength and heat; rapid- setting cement that can be used at low temperatures.

cement, microfine

normally a proprietary blend of finely ground blast furnace slag and Portland cement.

cement, ordinary Portland

the term used in the United Kingdom and elsewhere to designate the equivalent of American normal Portland cement or Type I cement; commonly abbreviated OPC.

cement, Portland

a hydraulic cement produced by pulverizing Portland-cement clinker and usually containing calcium sulfate.

cement, regulated set

a hydraulic cement containing fluorine-substituted calcium aluminate, capable of very rapid setting.

cement, slag

granulated blast-furnace slag that has been finely ground and that is hydraulic cement.

cement, sulfate-resistant

Portland cement with a low tricalcium aluminate content, which makes concrete more resistant to damage from dissolved sulfates in water or soils.

cement, white

Portland cement which hydrates to a white paste, made from raw materials of low iron content.

cement paste

binder of concrete and mortar consisting essentially of cement, water, hydration products, and any admixtures together with very finely divided materials included in the aggregates. (See also cement paste, neat.)

cement paste, neat

a mixture of hydraulic cement and water.

cementation process

pressure injection of cement grout into gravel, fractured rock, etc., to solidify it.


properly, material having cementitious properties, practically considered to be that fraction of an inorganic material (mortar or concrete) passing a 90 m (micron) (No. 170 mesh) per ASTM E1..

chain drag

a nondestructive testing method in which the sounds from chains dragged over a concrete surface are used to detect delaminations; dull or hollow sounds indicate delaminated areas, whereas non-delaminated concrete exhibits a clear ringing sound. (See also sounding or, more broadly, acoustic impact.)


the loose powder caused by decomposition of a concrete surface or degradation of a coating.


placing materials into a mixer or other container for further processing.



the process of forming complex chemical compounds in which certain metal ions are bound into stable ring structures, keeping the ions in solution and eliminating or reducing normal (and often undesirable) effects of the ions; similar to the process of sequestration.

chemical attack

material degradation by reaction with, dissolution by, or reduction of physical continuity from contact with a chemical agent or agents.

chemical bond

bond between materials that is the result of cohesion and adhesion developed by chemical reaction.

chemical compatibility

chemical grout

chemical grout system

any mixture of materials used for grouting purposes in which all elements of the system are true solutions (no particles in suspension).


the ability of a material to resist degradation by reaction with, dissolution by, or reduction of physical continuity from contact with a chemical agent or agents, thereby retaining its capacity to perform as a structural or aesthetic element.


to remove all or part of a hardened concrete section with a chisel.

chisel point

point with two major planes forming a “V” and a pair of minor planes on each flank; forming a hexagonal cross section.

chloride contamination

contamination of concrete with chloride ions commonly used in deicing salts and accelerating admixtures such as calcium chloride and sodium chloride; chloride contamination above the threshold for corrosion can result in corrosion of the reinforcing steel.

chloride content

total amount of chloride ion present in concrete or mortar.

chloride diffusion

the movement of chlorides over time within a concrete section due to concentration gradients.

chloride ion (Cl-)

anion of common deicing salts (sodium chloride) and of the accelerating admixtures calcium chloride.

chloride threshold

the amount of chloride required to initiate steel corrosion in reinforced concrete under a given set of exposure conditions; commonly expressed in percent of chloride ion by mass of cement.


chemicals containing chlorine, which when mixed with water release a chloride ion (Cl-); an example is sodium chloride (salt).

chlorinated rubber

resin produced by the reaction of natural rubber with chlorine gas; coatings formulated from this resin have good resistance to acids, alkalis, and chemicals generally, but not to aromatic solvents, gasoline, etc.

chopped strand

roved fibers that are chopped into short lengths for use in mats, spray-up, or molding compounds.

circuit grouting


treatment of existing concrete substrate to remove all surface material and contamination down to a condition of cleanness corresponding to that of a freshly broken surface of concrete.


achieving the desired reduction in grout take by splitting the hole spacing; if closure is being achieved, there will be a progressive decrease in grout take as primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary holes are grouted.

coal tar

a material produced by the destructive distillation of coal; coal tar epoxies are coatings in which the binder is a combination of coal tar and epoxy resins.


1) liquid, with or without fillers or reinforcement, that is applied to a substrate by brushing, dipping, mopping, spraying, troweling, etc., to form a material that will bond to and preserve, protect, decorate, seal, or smooth the substrate; also used to provide a barrier to contain chemicals; 2) in unbonded post-tensioned concrete, a material used to lubricate steel tendons or protect against corrosion.

coating, high-build

protective surface treatment with a dry thickness greater than 10 mils (0.25 mm) and less than 30 mils (0.75 mm) applied to the surface of concrete.

coaxial dispenser

coefficient of friction

the ratio of the force required to move one surface over another, to the total force applied normal to those surfaces.

coefficient of permeability

the rate of discharge of water under laminar-flow conditions through a unit cross-sectional area of a porous medium under a unit hydraulic gradient and standard temperature conditions (usually 68 °F [20 °C]).

coefficient of thermal expansion

change in linear dimension per unit length or change in volume per unit volume per degree of temperature change.


a temporary structure enclosing all or part on a construction area so that construction or repair can proceed in the dry.


the mutual attraction by which the molecules of a solid or liquid are held together..

cohesive failure

see also failure, cohesive.

cold joint

cold-weather concreting

special concreting and construction practices used to offset the limiting effects of cold conditions.


1) jackets which surround only a portion of a column or pier; typically used to provide increased support to the structural member at the top of the column or pier; 2) the surface opening of a borehole.

colloidal particle

an electrically charged particle, generally smaller than 0.1 mm, dispersed in a second continuous medium.

colloidal grout


subsurface movement of grout from an injection hole to another hole or opening.

compaction grout


1) a balance of physical, chemical, and electrochemical properties and dimensions between a repair material and the existing substrate; 2) the capacity of two or more materials to combine or remain together without undesirable aftereffects; 3) mutual tolerance.

compatibility, chemical

any combination of materials that results in a chemically stable repair system.

compatibility, dimensional

a balance of dimensions, or volumetric stability, between a repair material and the existing substrate.

compatibility, electrochemical

a balance of electrochemical properties of two materials in contact.

compatibility, thermal

a balance of thermal properties between a repair material and the existing substrate.


the ability of two or more materials to be placed in contact or in sufficiently close proximity to interact with no detrimental results.


a product or system made from two or more constituent materials that remain distinct, but combine to form a material with properties not possessed by any of the individual constituents; e.g., a composite repair that includes a concrete substrate, adhesive bonding agent, and repair material.

composite construction

a type of construction with different materials and structural elements that are sufficiently interconnected that the combined components respond to loads as a unit.


a mixture of a polymer with other ingredients such as fillers, stabilizers, catalysts, processing aids, lubricants, modifiers, pigments, or curing agents.

compression seal

a seal that is attained by a compressive force on the sealing material.

compressive strength


amount of a constituent substance expressed in relationship to the whole.


a composite material that consists essentially of a binding medium within which are embedded particles or fragments of aggregate, usually a combination of fine aggregate and coarse aggregate; in Portland cement concrete, the binder is a mixture of Portland cement and water, with or without admixtures.

concrete, epoxy

a mixture of epoxy resin, curing agent, fine aggregate, and coarse aggregate. (See also epoxy mortar and concrete, polymer.)

concrete, fiber-reinforced

concrete containing dispersed, randomly oriented fibers.

concrete, fresh

unhardened concrete that can be consolidated by the intended method.

concrete, high-early-strength

concrete that contains high-early-strength cement or admixtures which allow it to reach a specified strength earlier than normal concrete would.

concrete, high-strength

concrete that has a specified compressive strength for design of 8000 psi (55 MPa) or greater.

concrete, mass


concrete, nonstructural

any element made of plain or reinforced concrete that is not part of a structural system required to transfer gravity, lateral load, or both, along a load path to the ground.

concrete, plain

concrete without reinforcement.

concrete, polymer

a composite material in which the fine and coarse aggregates are bound together in a dense matrix with a polymer binder; also known as resin concrete.

concrete, polymer-cement

a mixture of water, hydraulic cement, aggregate, and a monomer or polymer; polymerized in place when a monomer is used.

concrete, preplaced-aggregate

concrete produced by placing coarse aggregate in a form and later injecting a portland cement-sand grout, usually with admixtures, to fill the voids.

concrete (mortar, grout), preshrunk

1) concrete that has been mixed for a short period in a stationary mixer before being transferred to a transit mixer; 2) grout, mortar, or concrete that has been mixed 1 to 3 hr before placing in order to reduce shrinkage during hardening.

concrete, prestressed

structural concrete in which internal stresses have been introduced to reduce potential tensile stresses resulting from loads.

concrete, pumped

concrete which is transported through a hose or pipe by means of a pump.

concrete, reinforced

concrete containing adequate reinforcement (prestressed or not prestressed) and designed on the assumption that the two materials act together in resisting forces.

concrete, roller-compacted

concrete compacted by roller compaction; concrete that, in its unhardened state, will support a roller while being compacted.

concrete, structural

plain or reinforced concrete in a member that is part of a structural system required to transfer gravity and/or lateral loads along a load path to the ground.

concrete, tremie

concrete placed underwater with a tremie pipe or hose.

concrete, vacuum

concrete from which excess water and entrapped air are extracted by a vacuum process before hardening occurs.

concrete, zero-slump

concrete of stiff or extremely dry consistency showing no measurable slump after removal of the slump cone.

concrete breakers

hand-held or machine mounted equipment commonly used for removal of concrete by repeated striking of the surface to spall and fracture the concrete. (See also scabbler.)

concrete breakers, boom-mounted

mechanically operated equipment for removal of concrete by repeated, high energy and low-frequency striking of the surface to spall and fracture the concrete.

concrete breakers, hand-held

equipment commonly used for removal of concrete by repeated, low-energy and high-frequency striking of the surface to spall and fracture the concrete.

concrete breakers, impact

equipment for removal of concrete by repeated striking of the surface to spall and fracture the concrete; may produce microcracking in the concrete substrate.

condensed silica fume


to equalize the moisture in a material with that of a specified atmosphere.

condition assessment

investigation and appraisal of the condition of a material, element, or system. (See ACI 562 for code specific language.) (See also condition survey, evaluation, and visual inspection).

condition assessment (structural)

a general term used to describe the systematic collection of information about an existing structure and evaluation of the collected information to make informed decisions regarding the need for repair or rehabilitation of the examined structure.

condition survey

quantitatively defining the physical condition of a structure, principally by visual inspection and nondestructive tests supplemented by sampling and laboratory testing.


1) material property relating heat flux (heat transferred per unit area per unit time) to a temperature difference; 2) property of a water or soil sample to transmit electric current (inverse of resistivity) under a set of standard conditions. Usually expressed as microhms conductance.

connector steel

(See ACI 562 for code specific language.)


the process whereby the volume of freshly placed mortar or concrete is reduced to the minimum practical space, usually by vibration, rodding, tamping, or some combination of these actions; to mold mortar or concrete within a form or repair cavity and around embedded items and reinforcement and eliminate voids other than entrained air. (See also rodding and tamping.)

consolidation grouting

injection of a fluid grout, usually sand, Portland cement, and water, into a compressible soil mass in order to displace it and form a lenticular grout structure for support.


the extent to which the design of a repair and material properties facilitates ease of construction, achieving a quality repair at an economic cost.

construction joint

contact splice

a means of connecting reinforcing bars in which the bars are lapped and in direct contact. (See also lap splice.)


any extraneous material on or within a concrete substrate that can cause deterioration, inhibit bond, or adversely impact performance of any applied repair or protection system.

continuity, reinforcement

a condition in reinforced concrete in which the reinforcing steel is sufficiently interconnected to provide a path for electrical current..

continuous mixer



a set of documents designed to define all aspects of the construction process. These documents typically consist of contract forms, contract conditions, specifications, drawings, addenda, and contract changes.

contract, change order

contract document to be signed by Owner, Design Professional and Contractor which confirms mutual agreement by all parties of modification to any contract terms (most typically changes to project work scope, cost and/or schedule).

contract, lump sum

agreement between an Owner and a Contractor which stipulates either a defined specific scope of services/work to be performed for a fixed payment amount or an open-ended scope with an intended end result to be performed for a fixed payment amount.

contract, time and materials

type of contract frequently used for evaluation investigations, or projects with potential hidden conditions and undefined scopes.

contract, unit price

agreement between an Owner and a Contractor for a defined set of work tasks where the total quantity of work is variable. The quantity of work for each category is estimated and work is paid for on a unit price basis such as $/ft2.


person or entity that is under contract to the owner for the implementation of repairs to the structure.


a drawing together that reduces the volume or length of a mass or object.

contraction joint

control joint

controlled low-strength material

a self-compacted, cementitious material used primarily as a backfill in lieu of compacted fill.

conveying hose


the top layer or a covering on a wall or pier exposed to the weather, usually sloped to carry off water.


copper-copper sulfate half cell

a commonly used standard reference electrode used to measure the electrical potential between it and the reinforcing steel.


a cylindrical sample of hardened concrete or rock obtained by means of a core drill.

core recovery

ratio of the length of core recovered to the length of hole drilled, usually expressed as a percentage.


the process of drilling and extracting cores from concrete structures or rock foundations.


destruction of metal by chemical, electrochemical, and electrolytic reaction within its environment.

corrosion cell

area of concrete in which there is a flow of electrons from anode to cathode.

corrosion current

the amount of current flowing from an anode to a cathode in a corrosion cell, usually reported as µA; if normalized for the area over which the corrosion is occurring, it is reported in µA/cm2 for corrosion cells in concrete.

corrosion inhibitor

a chemical compound that, when used as an admixture in fresh concrete or as a topical application to hardened concrete, prevents or reduces corrosion of embedded metals.

corrosion inhibitor, surface applied

a chemical compound that, when used as a topical application to hardened concrete in the proper concentration and form, prevents or reduces corrosion.

corrosion potential

the potential of a corroding surface in an electrolyte relative to a reference electrode measured under open-circuit conditions.

corrosion product

substance formed as a result of corrosion.

corrosion rate

the amount of corroding material being lost, usually reported as mass change per unit area per unit time or penetration per unit time mils/year or µm/year; in steel, one µA/unit area is the equivalent to 11 µm/year/unit area.

corrosion resistance

ability of a metal to withstand corrosion in a given corrosion system.

corrosion threshold

the chloride ion concentration, in the vicinity of the reinforcing steel, sufficient to initiate active corrosion. There is conflicting data on threshold values; however, an acid-soluble chloride threshold value of 1.0 to 1.5 lb/yd3 of concrete is typically used in the United States.



the means for transmittal of prestressing force from one partial-length tendon to another.


1) in reinforced concrete, the least distance between the surface of the reinforcement and the outer surface of the concrete; 2) in grouting, the thickness of rock and soil material overlying the stage of the hole being grouted.


the area that a specified volume of coating will cover to a specified dry thickness.


a nondestructive testing instrument for locating embedded steel reinforcement, measuring depth of cover, and estimating the diameter of reinforcement by measuring the change in a low frequency alternating magnetic field applied on the surface of a member. Also known as a pachometer and rebar locator.


a complete or incomplete separation of concrete into two or more parts produced by breaking or fracturing.

crack, active

any crack for which the mechanism causing the cracking is still at work; any crack that is still moving.

crack, dormant

any crack not likely to become active in the future or whose movement is of such magnitude that a repair will not be affected.

crack, hairline

concrete surface crack with a width similar to the diameter of human hair (about 0.10 mm [0.004 in.]). Such cracks are difficult to observe unless the concrete surface is wetted and allowed to dry.

crack, longitudinal

crack that generally parallels the length of a member.

crack, nonstructural

crack that is not the result of external forces and has no effect on structural resistance or integrity; usually the result of shrinkage (plastic, settlement and drying), thermal changes, or internal chemical reaction.

crack, shrinkage

crack caused by restrained shrinkage.

crack, structural

crack that is caused by dead loads, applied forces or other external forces.

crack, thermal

crack caused by internally or externally restrained thermal expansion or contraction.

crack, transverse

crack generally perpendicular to the length of a member.

crack bridging

the ability of repair or protective surface treatment to remain continuous when installed on a cracked concrete surface.

crack injection

a method for sealing or repairing cracks by injecting a polymer or other material.

crack monitor

a device that measures the movement of cracks.


cracking, D-cracking

a series of cracks in concrete near and roughly parallel to joints, edges, and structural cracks.

cracking, map

1) intersecting cracks that extend below the surface of hardened concrete; caused by shrinkage of the drying surface concrete that is restrained by concrete at greater depths where either little or no shrinkage occurs; vary in width from fine and barely visible to open and well-defined; or 2) the chief symptom of chemical reaction between alkalies in cement and mineral constituents in aggregate within hardened concrete; due to differential rate of volume change in different portions of the concrete; cracking is usually random and on a fairly large scale, and in severe instances the cracks may reach a width of 0.50 in. (12.7 mm); also known as pattern cracking. (See also cracks, checking; and crazing.)

cracking, pattern

cracking, plastic

cracking that occurs in the surface of a fresh cementitious material soon after it is placed and while it is still plastic.

cracking, reflective

the occurrence of cracks in overlays and toppings that coincide with the location of previously existing active cracks in the substrate.

cracking, shrinkage

cracking of a structure or member due to restrained shrinkage caused by a reduction in moisture content, carbonation, or both.

cracking, stress-corrosion

a cracking process that requires the simultaneous action of a corrodent and sustained tensile stress.

cracking, temperature

cracking which occurs when strains, induced by restrained contraction because of decreases in temperature, exceed the tensile strain capacity of a material.


cracks, alligator

surface cracking that forms a pattern similar to alligator hide.

cracks, checking

shallow, closely spaced cracks that form an irregular pattern. (See also cracks, craze; and crazing.)

cracks, craze

fine random cracks or fissures in a surface..

craze cracks


the development of craze cracks; the pattern of craze cracks existing in a surface. (See also cracks, checking; and cracks, craze.)


time-dependent deformation resulting from a sustained load.

creep, compressive

creep that occurs because of compressive load.

creep, drying

creep caused by drying.

creep, tensile

creep that occurs because of tensile load.

critical saturation

crosshole logging

a nondestructive testing method for locating low-quality concrete with transducers positioned along the length of holes drilled into a deep foundation. (See also ultrasonic pulse velocity.)


the chemical bonding between linear polymer chains to form a three-dimensional network, generally by covalent bonding.


arrangement of previously disordered material segments of repeating patterns into geometric symmetry.


the process by which a compound attains its intended performance properties by means of evaporation, chemical reaction, heat, radiation, or combinations thereof.

cure time

the time interval between formation or placement of a material and the material’s reaching specified design properties; some materials require specified treatment during this interval.


the maintenance of a favorable temperature and moisture environment for repair and protection materials during some definite period following placing, casting, or finishing so that the desired properties may develop.

curing, membrane

a process that involves either liquid sealing compound or nonliquid protective coating, both of which function as films to restrict evaporation of mixing water from cementitious repair materials.

curing, moist

continuous or frequent application of water through ponding, fogging, steam, or saturated cover materials, such as burlap or cotton mats, and the minimization of water loss by use of plastic sheets or other moisture-retaining materials applied over newly placed concrete to promote cement hydration.


the distortion of an originally essentially linear or planar member into a curved shape such as the warping of a slab due to creep or to differences in temperature or moisture content in the zones adjacent to its opposite faces. (See also warping.)

curtain grouting

curtain wall

a building facade made of glass and metal.

cutting screed

sharp-edged tool used to trim shotcrete to finished outline. (See also rod.)

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