Effect of mechanical restraint on the rate of corrosion in concrete

Abstract

Experimental work on prismatic concrete specimens was conducted to determine the relationship between mechanical restraint and the rate of corrosion. The current together with the changes in strain of the confining frame were monitored during the accelerated corrosion tests. The effect of mix design and cracking on the corrosion rates was also investigated. The results show that one-dimensional mechanical restraint retards the corrosion process, as indicated by the reduction in the steel loss. Improved quality of the matrix, with and without cracking, reduces the rate of steel loss. In the inferior quality concrete, the effect of cracking on the corrosion rate is minimal.Key words: corrosion, concrete, repair.