A Review of Durability Research and Performance Improvement of Concrete Serving in Plateau Environments

The service environment plays a critical role in determining the service life of engineering concrete. Concrete durability pertains to the evolution of material properties throughout the service life of a structure under specific environmental conditions,rather than solely reflecting the material’s intrinsic characteristics. In recent years,the scale of concrete infrastructure development on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau has expanded rapidly. Due to the progressive decline in temperature and air pressure with increasing altitude,this region is characterized by severe environmental conditions,including pronounced diurnal temperature fluctuations,intense solar radiation,low humidity,reduced atmospheric pressure,and widespread soil salinization. These factors collectively impose more stringent requirements on the durability performance of concrete. In response to these challenges,this review systematically summarizes the deterioration mechanisms of concrete in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau region and categorizes corresponding improvement strategies. The findings aim to serve as a reference for the design and optimization of concrete materials and structural systems under plateau-specific environmental conditions in China.