Affiliation:
1. School of Civil Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410075, China
Abstract
Rebar corrosion is the primary cause of the durability degradation of reinforced concrete (RC) structures, where non-uniform corrosion is the typical pattern in engineering. This study experimentally and numerically investigated the tensile degradation properties of non-uniform corroded rebars. Corrosion morphology was accurately determined by three-dimensional (3D) laser scanning techniques, studying the characteristics of longitudinal non-uniform corrosion. The results showed that the non-uniformity of corrosion increased with an increase in corrosion levels. From tensile tests, the differences in nominal stress–strain curves among rebars with similar average corrosion levels indicated that corrosion non-uniformity has appreciable effects on the tensile behavior of rebars. The residual load-bearing capacity of corroded rebars was dominated by the reduced critical cross-section, while residual ductility was associated with the cross-section loss throughout the entire length of rebars. The degradation relations of nominal yield and ultimate strength, ultimate strain, and elongation after fracture were better correlated to the maximum cross-section loss than to the average volume loss. Additionally, numerical calculation based on the cross-sectional areas of corroded rebars was conducted to evaluate the tensile behavior of non-uniform corroded rebars. Equivalent distribution models simulating the longitudinal non-uniform corrosion were proposed, on the basis of probability characteristics of cross-sectional areas, for practical application of the numerical method.
Funder
National Natural Science Foundation of China
Independent Exploration and Innovation Project for graduate students of Central South University
Subject
General Materials Science