Potential effects of corrosion damage on the performance of reinforced concrete member

Abstract

Corrosion of steel in reinforced concrete is one of the most serious issues for the owners. The main consequences of this phenomenon include loss of cross section of steel area, induced the expansive pressure which caused cracking of concrete, spalling and delaminating of the concrete cover. Thus, it reduces the bond strength between steel reinforcing bar and concrete, and deteriorates the strength of whole structure. In this study, a non-linear finite element analysis was conducted to investigate the potential effects of corrosion damage. A series of corroded reinforced concrete cylinder is used in the parametric study to assess the influence of different level of corrosion to the structural performance. As a result, a clear picture of corrosive expansion was investigated and the relationship between the expansive pressure and the degree of corrosion was identified to be the important factors of the structural deterioration.