An experimental investigation into the effect of corrosion on the ductility of steel reinforcement is reported. Both accelerated and simulated corrosion tests were conducted on bare bars and on bars embedded in concrete. The mechanism and degree of the reduction of ductility of reinforcement due to corrosion were examined. The influence of bar type and diameter on ductility of corroded reinforcement is discussed. The experimental results indicate that, since local attack penetration results in a significant variation of residual cross-section along its length, corrosion significantly reduces ductility of reinforcement. Although the strength ratio, elastic modulus and hardening strain only vary with bar type rather than corrosion level, the elongation, ultimate strain and ductile area of corroded reinforcement reduce much more significantly than do those of their yield and ultimate strengths. There is concern regarding bar ductility since about 10% corrosion may possibly decrease the ultimate strain of reinforcement below the minimum requirement specified in CEB Model Code 90 for class S reinforcement. Even though the elongation, ultimate strength and ductile area parameter of corroded small diameter and/or plain bars reduce more than those of large diameter and/or ribbed ones, such differences are not significant and can be neglected. Finally, a set of simple empirical equations is proposed to assess the ductility of corroded reinforcement in practice.

This paper presents an experimental investigation into the residual capacity of corroded reinforcing bars. By performing both accelerated and simulated corrosion tests on bare bars and on bars embedded in concrete, the mechanism of the reduction of the capacity of corroded reinforcement was investigated. The influence of type and diameter of reinforcement on its residual capacity is discussed. The experimental results show that, due to local attack penetration, the residual cross-section of a corroded bar is no longer round and varies considerably along its circumference and its length. Although the force-extension curves of corroded bars are similar to those of noncorroded bars for up to 16% corrosion, their residual yield and ultimate forces decrease more rapidly than their average cross-sectional area and, therefore, their residual strength decreases significantly. Even though the residual capacity of corroded small diameter and/or plain bars reduces more than that of large diameter or ribbed ones, differences are not significant and can be neglected. Finally, a simple equation is proposed to predict the residual capacity of corroded reinforcing bars in practice.

This paper reports results of an experimental programme to measure changes in bond characteristics of plain round reinforcement as a result of corrosion. Principal parameters included in the investigation are the amount of corrosion, the presence of confining reinforcement in the form of links, cover thickness and the initial condition of the reinforcement. In the absence of confining links, bond strength of bars cast near the bottom of a pour is found to reduce with increasing corrosion. However, although top-cast bars were initially weaker, small amounts of corrosion were sufficient to raise bond strength to that of bottom-cast bars. With increasing corrosion, strength reduced in a similar manner to bottom-cast bars. Confining reinforcement had little influence on bond strength prior to the onset of corrosion, but plays an important role in maintaining strength once corrosion becomes established. Results from these tests suggest that surface crack width may provide a better parameter than section loss or corrosion penetration through which to assess residual bond strength. The reasons for this are explained, and empirical relationships for residual strength are derived.

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