ABSTRACT
Under imposed strain many fine cracks are formed in SHCC instead of few wider cracks. Ductility is increased by addition of fibers but water und dissolved ions can penetrate into micro-cracks by capillary action. As a consequence, corrosion of steel reinforcement can be initiated at an early stage. Multiple cracked SHCC specimens with and without water repellent surface impregnation were produced. Corrosion of steel reinforcement in cracked SHCC exposed to aqueous salt solutions was monitored by measuring the electrical potential of the steel reinforcement as function of wetting-drying cycles. Based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that corrosion of steel reinforcement in cracked and in uncracked SHCC specimens can be reduced significantly by water repellent surface impregnation. Service life of steel reinforced SHCC exposed to aggressive environment can be extended substantially in this way.
