ABSTRACT
Corrosion of steel in concrete is a very common degradation phenomenon observed in reinforced concrete structures. It impairs the resisting section of the bars, the surrounding concrete around the bars and finally modifies the bond between steel and concrete. Some experimental tests are present in literature in which the structural behavior of reinforced concrete beams in presence of corrosion of longitudinal bars and stirrups was analyzed: a progressive reduction of the load bearing capacity was demonstrated with an increase level of corrosion. Furthermore a not-obvious rupture mechanism was observed due to the effect of rust formation; in particular with the increase level of corrosion a change in the type of collapse was observed.
