Modeling carbonation for corrosion risk prediction of concrete structures

Damage of reinforced concrete structures is often caused by corrosion of steel reinforcements due to carbonation. Although literature on carbonation has become vast, a comprehensive numerical model for quantitative prediction of the corrosion risk that allows for environmental influences such as temperature and humidity seems lacking. The aim of the present paper is the development of a theoretical model to predict carbonation of concrete structures. The model describes movement and retention of heat, moisture and carbon dioxide (CO2) by means of balance equations and diffusion laws. The balance equations are coupled and take into account the interaction between different transport and storing processes. A new mathematical formulation of the function of moisture in balance faithfully represents the moisture-storing properties of a porous media. The evolutionary equation of the reaction Of CO2 is derived from reaction kinetics that are described by the Arrhenius' function. The model is solved by means of an efficient numerical method using a Finite Element concept and numerical time integration techniques. It is verified by using results front experimental tests reported in the literature. Taking into account changing atmospheric conditions, structures are investigated with respect to the corrosion risk of steel reinforcements. Together with threshold values taken from the literature, the numerical results give the corrosion risk of reinforced concrete structures. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.