Spatial and time-dependent reliability modelling of corrosion damage, safety and maintenance for reinforced concrete structures

The article reviews how spatial and time-dependent modelling of deterioration process can be used to provide a more realistic assessment of the reliability, safety and maintenance options for reinforced concrete structures. The present article will assess (i) the effect of spatially variable pitting corrosion and concrete strength on safety and structural reliability of RC columns and (ii) the effect of corrosion-induced cover cracking on the number, timing and extent of repair actions for RC structures. It was shown that probabilities of failure considering spatial variability of concrete and reinforcement were up to 450% higher than probabilities of failure obtained from a non-spatial analysis. Finally, the article will discuss aspects of deterioration modelling in need of improvement that will enable predictions of the safety and maintenance needs of a structure over its service life to be made with more confidence.