12th International Conference on Durability of Building Materials and Components (XII DBMC): Proceedings

The DBMC Conferences  -  Durability  of  Building Materials and Components  -  have had a long history that started in 1978 and thereafter travelled through different countries and cities including: Canada - Ottawa, 78'; United  States - Gaithersburg, 81' ; Finland  -  Espoo, 84'; Republic of Singapore  -  Singapore,  87';  United  Kingdom  -  Brighton,  90';  Japan  -  Omiya,  93'; Sweden - Stockholm, 96';  Canada - Vancouver,  99'; Australia - Brisbane, 2002; France - Lyon, 2005; Turkey - Istanbul, 2008.

In the distant past, construction solutions were validated empirically through several years of experience, whereas with the onset of further industrialization of the construction process, it was recognized within the construction community that a performance-based selection of materials, components and systems was required if innovation was to be fostered and progress in the construction domain achieved.  However, it was equally apparent to those promoting such novel approaches that the selection on the basis of understanding of performance requirements could only be met if the results of research and development were made available and indeed exploitable by practitioners.

The DBMC has had over the years the aim to contribute to the systematization and dissemination of knowledge related to the long-term performance and durability of construction and, simultaneously, to show the most recent advances in this domain.

Given the availability of new construction solutions, these days ever evolving in the construction domain, and these offering greater levels of construction complexity, there is perhaps a presupposition that their performance over time can be readily estimated on the basis of a knowledge of material properties and the ability to simulate the performance of the individual’s parts of a complex system.  In fact, only an in-depth knowledge of the area of durability allows the prediction of performance over time and from this, the designation of suitable solutions for the most complex problems affecting the built environment. As well, the adoption of innovative technological solutions can only truly be undertaken with assurance to provide the expected performance over time with appropriate and focused research; the costs of a non-durable alternatives are simply too high.

It is not possible to effectively understand the durability of building materials, components and systems without recourse to an interdisciplinary approach to resolving the nature of deteriorating actions on materials and components and their effect on the long-term performance of built sys­tems. Hence, in this conference, several themes were selected, that ranged from theory to practice and the authors presented significant contributions on: Building Physics and Durability; Service Life Prediction Methodologies; The Durability Approach for Historical and Old Buildings; Building Pathology vs. Durability; Asset and Maintenance Management; The Durability of Materials, Systems and Components;  Life  Cycle Analysis  and  Durable Construction  and  on  Information Technology as a Tool  for Durable Construction  Design.

More than 400 abstracts were submitted which allowed the selection and publication of over 260 papers. The demanding and rigorous review process represented a heavy obligation for the International Scientific Committee and, of course, for the authors. The editors wish to express to all people involved in the review process their deep and sincere thanks and acknowledgement of their keen efforts in completing this necessary task.

The 12DBMC Proceedings have been published in four volumes. The first volume contains papers focusing on the themes of Building Physics and Durability, specifically, degradation mechanisms, environmental characterization and natural and accelerated ageing tests, and as well, Service Life Prediction Methodologies, that includes predictive models. The second volume presents papers focusing on the other two parts as relate to Service Life Prediction Methodologies, namely field studies and risk analysis; the subsequent themes in volume two include the Durability Approach for Historical and Old Buildings, that contains the durability of traditional materials and durability of refurbishment solutions, and the theme of Building Pathology vs. Durability, in which can be found methodologies of research. The third volume offers papers on the second part of Building Pathology vs. Durability, and includes cases of failure.  In this same volume are provided papers on the themes of Asset and Maintenance Management and Durability of Materials, Systems and Components; in the former theme papers related to service life planning are given as are those on inspection routines and repair actions:  in the later theme, mortars and cement-based materials and that part on concrete materials (strength and durability) is given.

The fourth volume presents papers focusing on the themes of Durability of Materials.  Systems and Components; the subsequent part on concrete materials (strength and durability) is offered as is waterproofing systems, masonry walls and external coatings, and innovative materials and products for durability. The final set of themes in the fourth volume include:  Life Cycle Analysis and Durable Construction; and, Information Technology as a Tool for Durable Construction Design.

The editors, the reviewers and the authors made a considerable effort to produce a set of proceedings without significant errors or omissions. However, it should be conceded that in a set of four volumes containing over 2000 pages it was not possible to completely capture all faults or inaccuracies.  In this regard, the editors regret any oversights and express in advance their apologies for any errors that may subsequently be uncovered.

The 12DBMC has received sponsorship from several Institutes and Companies. To our sponsors and to all other organizations involved in supporting the conference, without which this conference would not have been possible, we would like to express publicly our most sincere thanks.

The organization of an international conference of this breadth and scope depends strongly on the earnest work of a number of committed people namely:  the papers’ authors, the keynote speakers, the Steering Committee, the International Scientific Committee and the Local Organizing Committee; a special thanks to all of them for their hard work. We are especially grateful to the staff of the Building Physics Laboratory of the FEUP whose incomparable work and dedication to the organization of this conference has greatly contributed to this unique event.

Finally  it  is  hoped  that  the  12DBMC  conference  can  be  considered  to  have  provided a  highly useful  venue  for  exchange  and  dissemination  of  information  for  all  those who participated  in this event  and  that  being  in Porto and  the Northern  Region  of  Portugal, as a complement  to  the  conference,  has  offered  an  opportunity  to  discover a  country  of  more  than  800  years  of  history,  and one  which  has a great joy  in welcoming  visitors, and  whose  countryside, cultural  patrimony  and gastronomic  diversity  the Portuguese  are  immensely  proud.