Modelling the corrosion‐induced cracking of reinforced concrete structures exposed to the atmosphere

Abstract

The prediction of concrete cracking due to corrosion in atmospheric/carbonated conditions is a major issue for the evaluation of the durability of structures and the choice of maintenance policies. Because of the complexity of the phenomenon, a fully predictive approach is still missing. The proposed work can be considered as one step in this direction. It deals with a modelling study achieved at the Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique (CEA) with the CAST3M finite elements software. Model is constituted of three components: (1) concrete hydric behaviour, (2) rebar corrosion and (3) mechanical consequences on concrete (mainly concrete cracking). Actual developments consider analogies between rebar corrosion mechanisms and atmospheric corrosion ones, assuming that corrosion processes are influenced by the relative humidity evolution of atmosphere and/or of concrete.

Tensile strength and oxide analysis of carbon steel in concrete exposed in atmospheric environment for 53 years

“…The corrosion products of the prepared samples were analysed by a Renishaw RM2000 (Renishaw plc, UK) microscopic confocal Raman spectrometer (μ-Raman) system. In the Raman test, the source used for excitation was an argon ion laser with a wavelength of 514.5 nm, and an area with a diameter of 2 μm was chosen for analysis, the excitation laser power on the sample was chosen at 0.47 mW [2,4] . The prepared samples were etched in alcohol with 2% nitric acid [15] .…”

“…The cross-sections of the mounted rebar were mechanically ground with emery papers (to grade 2000) and polished with diamond pastes under ethanol lubricant [2] . The corrosion products of the prepared samples were analysed by a Renishaw RM2000 (Renishaw plc, UK) microscopic confocal Raman spectrometer (μ-Raman) system.…”

“…The results showed that the inner layer was mainly constituted of non-stoichiometric magnetite and Ca substituted magnetite, while the outer layer was made of α-and δ-iron oxyhydroxides. Coupling of EDS, μ-XRD and μ-Raman test, Demoulin et al [2] investigated the corrosion product layers of steel in 46 and 260 years buildings respectively. The rust layer of the former was mainly the mill scale, which was constituted of wustite (FeO), magnetite (Fe 3 O 4 ), and hematite (α-Fe 2 O 3 ).…”

“…To improve the strategies of conservation and restoration of concrete structures, it is important to clarify the corrosion mechanism of rebar in aged concrete [1,2] . Some researchers have studied the corrosion of rebar in concrete exposed to various environments [1,[3][4][5][6][7][8] .…”

Experimental Study on the Shear Behavior of RC Beams with Corroded Stirrups

“…The destruction of RC structures caused by steel corrosion is a serious problem (Hostis et al 2011;Li and Zheng 2005). Damage caused by the steel corrosion may be significant in civil R.C.…”