Corroded reinforced concrete structures: effects of high corrosion and corroded stirrups

Paper in proceeding, 2011

The influences of severe corrosion leading to extensive cover cracking and of corrosion of stirrups on the bond of corroded bars were studied through pull-out tests and detailed non-linear finite element analyses. The tests showed that when wide cracks develop, the favourable effect of rust flowing through cracks becomes significant. This considerably decreases the splitting stress and, consequently, the damage to the surrounding concrete. A previously developed corrosion model was extended to include this phenomenon and used in detailed three-dimensional analyses of the test specimens. The results indicated the favourable effect of rust flowing through cracks and also the important role of stirrups after cover cracking.