ABSTRACT
The serviceability and durability of concrete structures may be seriously affected by the corrosion of steel reinforcement in structures that are exposed to aggressive environments, such as motorway bridges, car parks and marine structures. Reinforcement corrosion consumes original steel rebar, generates much lighter rust products and creates expansive layer at the interface between the reinforcement and the surrounding concrete cover. As corrosion progresses, the expansive displacement at the interface generated by accumulating rust products causes tensile stress in the hoop direction within the concrete cover, leading to radial splitting cracks in the concrete.The cracking and eventually spalling of the concrete cover significantly affect the bond strength between the rebar and the surrounding concrete cover and consequently influence the durability and resistance of reinforced concrete structures. Therefore, correct predictions of the evolution of cracking in cover concrete and evaluations of residual strength of the cracked concrete are of great importance to estimate the remaining life and prevent the premature failure of reinforced concrete structures.
