Title: Influence of Loading on Corrosion and Mechanical Response of Reinforced Concrete Elements

Author(s): Wang, W. J. Weiss, and S. P. Shah S. C. Yoon, H. R.

Publication: Symposium Paper

Volume: 189

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 253-272

Keywords: beams; corrosion; cracking; reinforced concrete; strength

DOI: 10.14359/5856

Date: 1/1/2000

Abstract:
Concrete structures are deteriorating at an alarming rate. While a substantial body of research exists to describe the corrosion process of pristine concrete systems, this paper describes a recent study in which the corrosion process of pristine concrete systems, this paper describes a recent study in which the corrosion and concrete systems, this paper describes a recent study in which the corrosion and mechanical response were assessed for beams exposed to various loading histories. Specifically, different levels of preloading were applied to generate damage while substained loading was also used to investigate the interaction between load level and corrosion rate. Results illustrate that loading history can significantly influence the corrosion and mechanical response of reinforced concrete elements. Corrosion is initiated in cracked beams much aster than in uncracked beams, presumably due to the cracks which facilitate the ingress of aggressive agents to the surface of reinforcing steel. Specimens with high levels of loading illustrated higher corrosion rates. Corrosion of the beams under sustained loading illustrated a similar load deflection history until the point at which significant corrosion was initiated. After significant corrosion occurred, the creep/corrosion behavior resulted I increased deformations which ultimately resulted I a creep/corrosion failure of high load level beams. Beams with higher loading levels were observed to have corrosion imitation sooner and undergo larger deflection. These results indicate that corrosion is accelerated in cracked structures and even further accelerated I structures where the load is maintained over a long-period of time. This suggests the need for models which assess the impact of the loading history in addition to corrosion driving forces, environmental conditions, and material proportions.