Eurosilo Gent

Background & Challenge

Located in the North Sea Port (Ghent), the Eurosilo complex is an iconic industrial facility designed for the bulk storage and handling of grain and derivatives. Due to its exposure to a aggressive maritime-industrial environment, coupled with microclimatic conditions inside the silos (moisture fluctuations, dynamic mechanical loads, and organic dusts), the reinforced concrete structures face significant durability pressures.

Over time, exposure to environmental factors raises concerns regarding chloride-induced corrosion, carbonation, and potential cracking in the concrete walls and supporting structures. To prevent costly downtime, safeguard bulk storage operations, and ensure structural safety, the operators needed an accurate estimate of the concrete’s remaining service life.

The Solution by Sanacon

Sanacon carried out a comprehensive durability assessment and remaining service life prediction tailored to the specific operational and environmental stresses of the Eurosilo site.

• Targeted Condition Assessment: Sanacon conducted detailed on-site non-destructive testing and extracted concrete cores from strategic structural locations (including exterior walls, loading zones, and high-moisture areas).

• Laboratory Degradation Analysis: The core samples were analyzed in Sanacon‘s specialized lab to measure parameters such as carbonation depths, chloride concentration profiles, concrete cover thickness, and moisture transport characteristics.

• Predictive Service Life Modeling: Utilizing physics-based and probabilistic degradation models (compliant with fib Model Code durability principles), Sanacon predicted the time remaining until corrosion initiation and subsequent structural propagation.

Key Results & Impact

• Quantified Asset Longevity: Eurosilo obtained a clear, data-driven timeline showing the remaining service life of critical concrete components.

• Optimized Repair Planning: Rather than executing broad, disruptive renovations, management received actionable insights to prioritize local maintenance in high-exposure zones.

• Minimized Operational Downtime: By enabling proactive maintenance, Sanacon helped ensure continuous, uninterrupted bulk storage operations at the Ghent port facility.

By combining rigorous material testing with advanced predictive modeling, Sanacon provided Eurosilo with the actionable data required to extend asset life and secure operational continuity.