ABSTRACT
The effect of inelastic buckling on low-cycle high amplitude fatigue life of reinforcing bars is investigated experimentally. The results show that the inelastic buckling, bar diameter and surface condition are the main parameters affecting the low-cycle fatigue life of reinforcing bars. Through nonlinear regression analyses of the experimental data a new set of empirical equations for fatigue life prediction of reinforcing bars as a function of the buckling length and yield strength are developed. Finally, these empirical models have been implemented into a new phenomenological hysteretic material model for reinforcing bars. Furthermore, the combined effect of inelastic buckling and chloride induced corrosion damage on low-cycle high amplitude fatigue life of embedded reinforcing bars is investigated experimentally. The low-cycle fatigue tests on corroded reinforcing bars varied in percentage mass loss, strain amplitudes and buckling lengths are conducted. The failure modes and crack propagation are investigated by fractography of fracture surfaces using scanning electron microscope.
