Numerical modelling of concrete cover cracking due to corrosion of reinforcing steel

Author(s): D. V. Val, L. Chernin
Paper category: Workshop
Book title: International RILEM Workshop on Integral Service Life Modelling of Concrete Structures
Editor(s): R.M. Ferreira, J. Gulikers, C. Andrade
Print ISBN: 978-2-35158-058-5
e-ISBN: 978-2-35158-090-5
Publisher: RILEM Publications SARL
Pages: 323 - 330
Total Pages: 8
Language: English

Abstract: 
The time for repair/replacement of reinforced concrete (RC) structures due to corrosion is usually controlled by cracking of the concrete cover. Therefore, it is important to be able to predict with sufficient accuracy the behaviour of RC structures after corrosion initiation (i.e., the time to first cracking and the following crack growth). In the paper corrosion-induced crack initiation and propagation are investigated using numerical simulations. Initially, a finite element model employed for this purpose is briefly described and then verified quantitatively and qualitatively against available experimental data. It is shown that the model yields results sufficiently close to those from experiments. The study concentrates on the estimation of the amount of corrosion products penetrating into concrete pores and cracks based on fitting of numerical results to available experimental data. Corrosion expansion is simulated using thermal analogy, i.e., by thermal expansion of a reinforcing bar caused by an increase in its temperature.

Online publication: 2013
Publication Type: full_text
Public price (Euros): 0.00