Title:
Phenomenological Modeling of Reinforcement Corrosion in Marine Environments
Author(s):
Robert E. Melchers and Chun Qing Li
Publication:
Materials Journal
Volume:
103
Issue:
1
Appears on pages(s):
25-32
Keywords:
corrosion; loading; reinforcement; strain.
DOI:
10.14359/15124
Date:
1/1/2006
Abstract:
The corrosion of steel reinforcement in a concrete structure almost certainly will cause both its safety and its performance to deteriorate. It is a topic of continued international interest particularly for existing, perhaps already partly affected, structures. For prediction of the severity of corrosion problems and when they are likely to occur it is desirable to have models for reinforcement corrosion. Although there is broad agreement on the principal factors that must be addressed, current models have been found not to accord well with field observations for real structures. The reasons for this are reviewed herein and, using careful reviews of the data available, a number of reconciliations are proposed. It is argued that the role of hydroxide ion loss has been underestimated in favor of chloride ingress. Moreover, it is argued that fundamental corrosion mechanics for steel, the various influences of concrete and the influences of strains and loading applied to the structure must be considered. Finally, a new and more comprehensive phenomenological model for the corrosion of steel reinforcement is proposed.