Analysis of Concrete Beams During the Corrosion Process on Reinforcement Under Tensile Stress

Abstract

This paper aims to the experimental study of reinforced concrete beams subjected to mechanical stresses and simultaneously affected by a corrosion process of their reinforcements. The corrosion process is galvanostatically accelerated applying a certain current density to a limited area of the reinforcements, which are under constant wetting with a solution of Sodium Chloride. The influence of the different degrees of tension in the process of reinforcement corrosion is analyzed through electrochemical monitoring, the cracking advancement in the concrete cover, and the loss of base material in the bars.

Corrosion Characteristics of Reinforced Concrete Under the Coupled Effects of Chloride Ingress and Static Loading: Laboratory Tests and Finite Element Analysis

“…Indeed, previous work has shown that the pitting susceptibility and pitting potential of steel reinforcement was dependent on the type of load and the level of applied stress [19]. To evaluate if constant load can cause the corrosion potential of the carbon steel reinforcement to achieve less active values, analysis was carried out by Ortega [20] to establish if corrosion process on the reinforcements in concrete beams took place under tensile stress and the corrosion potentials were tested. The results demonstrated that the concrete cover cracking provided greater availability of oxygen to the steel reinforcement, increasing the formation of oxides and allowing the steel reinforcement to achieve more passive potentials.…”

The Corrosion Characteristics and Tensile Behavior of Reinforcement under Coupled Carbonation and Static Loading

“…The coupled action of carbonation and static loading affects the distribution of corrosion pit pattern. Indeed, previous works have also shown that pitting susceptibility and pitting potential in stainless steel is dependent on the type of load and the level of applied stress [ 38 , 39 ]. To evaluate if concrete carbonation can promote brittle fracture of pre-stressed reinforcement, constant load tests in bicarbonate aqueous solutions under anodic polarization were carried out by Proverbio [ 40 ], and deep internal voids close to the surface were observed.…”