Cracks lead to a reduction of the bond between concrete and reinforcing steel rebars. A considerable decrease in the bond strength is more dangerous to a structural element’s safety than the loss of the cross-sectional steel reinforcement area. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the bond strength of corroded-damaged structures exposed to severely aggressive marine environments. Eighteen (18) cube specimens with dimensions of 200   mm   x   200   mm were cast. They were reinforced with three (3) different diameters of deformed steel and were grouped as unconfined and confined. The specimen was accelerated under a simulated corrosive environment. The experiment results reveal that the bond strength of concrete and steel reinforcement is susceptible to corrosion levels. The degree of corrosion significantly affects the bond strength of concrete and steel. The bond strength and the average crack width have a strong correlation; a minimal amount of corrosion with a minimum crack width of 0.03 mm after cracking reduces the bond strength to an unacceptable level. Stirrups confinement has a significant influence on the bond strength; it provides an excellent means to counteract bond loss. The loss of bond directly affects the serviceability and ultimate strength of reinforced concrete structures. There is an exponential relationship between cement and steel reinforcement’s bond strength with the serviceability and residual strength of reinforced concrete structures.

Corrosion is one of the significant deteriorations of reinforced concrete structures. It accelerated the performance loss of the structures, leading to a cross-sectional reduction of steel, which affects its mechanical properties, particularly its tensile capacity and ductility. The purpose of this study is to assess the serviceability and safety of corroded-damaged structures, particularly those exposed to aggressive marine environments. A total of 54 pcs of 150 mm-diameter and 300mm-height of cylindrical specimen were cast. Small-scaled specimens were accelerated to corrosion using impressed current techniques with a constant current density of 200 µA/cm2. Samples were immersed in a simulated environment with a 5% solution of sodium bicarbonate during corrosion acceleration. Corrosion alters the surface configuration of the steel bar. Pitting corrosions due to chloride aggression causes the residual cross-sectional area of corroded rebars to no longer round and varies considerably along its circumference and length. The reduction of the steel cross-sectional area has a significant impact on the degradation of the strength and durability of reinforcing structures. The residual capacity of the corroded reinforcement decreases with the reduction of the cross-sectional area of the steel reinforcement. The rate of corrosion affects the extent of the remaining service life of a corroded reinforced concrete structure. Doi: 10.28991/cej-2020-03091624 Full Text: PDF

Concrete provides a high degree of protection against corrosion of embedded steel reinforcement. Owing to the harsh environmental conditions and the presence of aggressive elements from the marine environment, deteriorating corrosion affects the durability of reinforced concrete structures. This study evaluated the effectiveness of bamboo leaf ash BLASH as a supplementary cementing material or admixture with Portland cement to improve the durability of reinforced concrete structures. Specimens of 0, 10, 15, and 20% BLASH mixtures were prepared using 16, 20, and 25 mm  steel reinforcements. A total of 100 cylindrical specimens were cast and used in this study. The specimens were accelerated by corrosion using impressed current techniques and a galvanostatic method in a simulated environment. The results show that specimens with a BLASH content of 10% exhibited superior performance and exhibited longer corrosion initiation and propagation times. It has a higher resistance to acid penetration and lower corrosion rates. The crack parameters of the specimen with BLASH admixtures, such as the crack width and crack frequency, were negligible. The use of BLASH as an admixture strengthens its durability and improves its residual strength and serviceability. Doi: 10.28991/cej-2021-03091707 Full Text: PDF

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