Steel reinforcement corrosion is the predominant cause of deterioration of reinforced concrete structures. Corrosion products can induce concrete cracking, loss of adhesion at the steel-concrete interface, loss of reinforcing bar cross-section, and even spalling of the concrete cover. This study investigates the durability problems related to corrosion of the reinforcement by combining experimental and numerical approaches. This paper particularly focuses on the experimental methodology used for the evaluation of the development over time of damages (steel corrosion products formation and crack patterns) induced by accelerated corrosion tests. The accelerated corrosion tests were carried out by applying a constant current between a reinforcement bar used as an anode and an external counter electrode. The corrosion process was monitored by measuring relevant electrochemical parameters, i.e. free corrosion potential, polarization resistance and electrical concrete resistance. The aim of this paper is to characterize the crack pattern (orientation, length and width) and the corrosion products layers according to the current density and the time.