Aging infrastructure and material deterioration can compromise safety, reduce service levels, and lead to premature failure. At Sixense North America, our materials diagnostics and sustainability engineering services help identify root causes, assess severity, and develop long-lasting repair strategies.
Our Approach
We begin with a targeted diagnostic phase, analyzing the symptoms and underlying issues affecting your structure. Our experts then design customized investigation programs that include:
- On-site inspections and measurements
- Material sampling and condition assessments
- Laboratory testing: mechanical, physico-chemical, and petrographic analyses
Based on these findings, we provide expert guidance to help you implement effective, sustainable maintenance and repair solutions—extending the life of your assets while ensuring safety and performance.
What We Do: Materials Diagnostics and Sustainability Engineering Services
Corrosion Diagnosis in Reinforced Concrete Structures
Reinforced concrete structures are vulnerable to corrosion over time, which can compromise safety and reduce service life. Diagnosing corrosion accurately is essential to designing repair solutions that meet both technical and durability requirements.
At Sixense North America, our corrosion diagnosis process includes:
Three Key Phases
- On-Site Investigations
- Visual inspections
- Auscultation using specialized tools
- Concrete sampling for lab analysis
- Laboratory Testing
- Mechanical, physico-chemical, and petrographic analyses
- Evaluation of material properties and degradation
- Repair Strategy Development
- Assessment of structural condition
- Tailored recommendations based on operational needs and long-term durability
- Comparison of technical and economic repair options
Our goal is to deliver actionable insights that help you select the most effective and sustainable repair strategy for your structure.
Diagnosis of Internal Swelling Reactions in Concrete (ISR, AAR)
Identifying reactive processes to prevent structural degradation
Concrete structures affected by internal swelling reactions—such as Alkali-Aggregate Reaction (AAR) or Internal Sulfate Reaction (ISR) —require a specialized diagnostic approach. These reactions can lead to cracking, loss of strength, and long-term durability issues.
At Sixense North America, our diagnostic process is designed to:
- Identify the origin of the reaction
- Predict its progression
- Recommend appropriate treatment and monitoring strategies
Our Diagnostic Process
- Initial Assessment
- Gather background information
- Document visible defects
- Establish a reference system for monitoring trihedral-type cracking
- Sampling & Laboratory Testing
- Collect concrete samples
- Perform mechanical, chemical, and petrographic analyses
- Reaction Identification & Prognosis
- Determine the type of reaction (AAR and/or ISR)
- Assess expansion potential and structural impact
- Model swelling progression and evaluate loss of resistance
- Recommendations
- Provide tailored monitoring plans
- Suggest repair or mitigation strategies based on structural needs and durability goals
Post-Fire Diagnosis of Reinforced and Prestressed Concrete Structures
Assessing fire damage to guide safe, effective structural repair
When a concrete structure, such as a a building, tunnel or bridge, is exposed to fire, a thorough post-fire diagnosis is essential to determine its safety and plan appropriate repairs. This process evaluates the severity of the damage and the remaining mechanical properties of both the concrete and its reinforcement (passive or active).
Our Diagnostic Process
- Initial Assessment
- Evaluate the situation and define immediate safety measures
- Damage Survey
- Document visible damage and structural deformation
- Non-Destructive Testing (NDT)
- Identify sound vs. damaged areas
- Collect samples of concrete and reinforcement for lab analysis
- Thermal Impact Evaluation
- Determine peak temperatures reached in affected zones
- Assess residual mechanical properties of materials
- Repair Strategy Definition
- Recommend repair and/or reinforcement work
- Align solutions with safety standards and long-term performance goals
Diagnosis of Reinforced Earth Structures (Terre Armée Type)
Evaluating corrosion risks to ensure long-term structural performance
Reinforced earth structures, such as retaining walls and bridge abutments, are critical components of transportation infrastructure. These systems require specialized monitoring and diagnostic procedures to assess their condition and ensure durability.
At Sixense North America, we support clients throughout the diagnostic process with a focus on corrosion risk and structural integrity.
Our Diagnostic Approach
- Risk Analysis & Inspection Planning
- Define inspection scope based on structural type and environmental exposure
- Corrosion Assessment
- Extract durability samples
- Excavate or sample reinforcements from the facing elements
- Laboratory Testing
- Evaluate mechanical properties of metal reinforcements
- Measure residual galvanizing thickness
- Assess the aggressiveness of backfill materials
- Recommendations & Monitoring Strategy
- Provide expert diagnosis
- Develop tailored monitoring and maintenance plans
A Chain of Expertise Mastered From Start to Finish
From on-site assessment to long-term treatment solutions
At Sixense North America, we deliver a complete chain of expertise to diagnose, monitor, and treat structural pathologies. Our process begins with an on-site evaluation to identify the nature of the disorder and assess its severity and stage of progression. This initial step helps define immediate safety measures and sets the foundation for a tailored response.
Monitoring Conditions Over Time
We use advanced techniques to monitor structural behavior over time. This includes modeling, accelerated aging simulations in the laboratory, auscultation, and continuous condition tracking. These tools are part of our broader approach to materials diagnostics and sustainability engineering, helping us anticipate how issues may evolve and guide proactive maintenance planning.
Treatment Solutions
Based on our findings, we design and implement targeted treatment strategies. Our team manages every phase (from planning and programming to execution and quality control) ensuring that repairs are technically sound, cost-effective, and aligned with long-term performance goals.
