Experimental and numerical analysis of corrosion induced cover cracking in reinforced concrete beam
Résumé
This paper aims to present both experimental and numerical studies of the corrosion induced cracking pattern evolution of a reinforced concrete sample subjected to accelerated corrosion. The sample was a concrete beam (1000x250x100 mm3) reinforced with two rebars (20 mm diameter; 25 mm cover). The beam was not mechanically loaded. The corrosion process was applied on 500 mm rebar length on the central part. Rebars were intentiostatically corroded using a current density of 100µA/cm² of steel, in a chloride pond and for a thirty days period. Electrochemical tests (rest potentials, linear polarization resistance and impedance spectroscopy) and visual inspection were performed in order to characterize the rebar state (sound or corroded). Width evolution of the main longitudinal cover crack was measured thanks to ball-extensometer. A numerical modeling of the corroded RC beam has also been realized. The model allows taking into account the most important mechanisms such as the specific behaviour related to rust products. The proposed steel/concrete interface model has been recently developed by the authors and is based on damage mechanics. The experimental and numerical results are in good agreement and confirm the mean crack width induced by the iron oxide swelling. These results are very promising and indicate that this model could become a practical tool for civil engineers dealing with in-site repair and maintenance issues.
Domaines
MatériauxOrigine | Fichiers produits par l'(les) auteur(s) |
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