Non-uniform model of relationship between surface strain and rust expansion force of reinforced concrete

When operating within the environments rich with sodium chloride, steel bars of reinforced concrete structures are often subject to corrosion caused by surrounding erosive materials, and the associated rust expansion force due to corrosion takes a critical role in determining the durability of relevant reinforced concrete structures. By investigating the corrosion course of steel reinforcement with theory of elasticity, a numerical rust expansion model is established for the moment of concrete surface rupture based on non-uniform sin function. Cuboid reinforced concrete specimen with squared cross sections is tested to analyze the rust expansion when concrete cracks due to corrosive forces. The utility of the established expansion model is validated by numerical simulation with Abaqus through the comparison between the associated outcomes. The impacts of steel bar diameter and concrete cover thickness on the magnitude of rust expansion force are discussed.

Automated summary

This study investigates the impact of rust expansion force due to corrosion on the durability of reinforced concrete structures by establishing a numerical model. The results show that the diameter of the steel bars and the thickness of the concrete cover can affect the magnitude of the rust expansion force.