Non-destructive material evaluation of a reinforced concrete viaduct: a practical methodology

The use of non-destructive tests for assessing the material status of concrete structures in the Netherlands remains relatively uncommon, despite the growing demand for the preservation of existing structures under the VenR policy of Rijkswaterstaat. Skepticism towards NDTs is reflected in the scarcity of documented case studies in publicly...

A two-phased modelling approach for corrosion-induced concrete cracking and bond deterioration in reinforced concrete

Bond deterioration is one of the major consequences of reinforcement corrosion in reinforced concrete (RC) structures. In this paper, a two-phased numerical modelling approach is presented that aims to determine the constitutive behaviour (bond–slip) at the reinforcement-concrete interface at a certain corrosion level. The novelty of the...

Modelling fracture due to corrosion and mechanical loading in reinforced concrete

Corrosion in reinforced concrete is an important feature which can lead to increased deformation and cracking, as well as to premature failure. In the present work, macro-mechanical modelling of corrosion is performed, namely the degradation of bond–slip between concrete and steel. A mixed-mode damage model is adopted, in which the...

Multi-region lifetime assessment of reinforced concrete structures subjected to carbonation and climate change

The built environment is already facing severe consequences related to climate change. Considering the durability of structures, the increase of carbon-dioxide (CO₂) concentration and changes on temperature and relative humidity may accelerate carbonation-induced corrosion, thus affecting the service life of reinforced concrete...

Coupled effects of corrosion damage and sustained loading on the flexural behavior of RC beams strengthened with CFRP anchorage system

This paper presents the results of an experimental study on the flexural behavior of carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) anchorage system strengthened reinforced concrete (RC) beams under the coupled effects of corrosion damage and sustained loading. The test beams were subjected to combined accelerated corrosion in 5% NaCl solution and...

Influence of different corrosion solutions on reinforced concrete by DIC and traditional strain test

When the corrosion expansion stress of the steel reinforcement exceeds the ultimate tensile strength of the concrete, the concrete will crack and eventually cause structural damage. Therefore, direct characterization methods of steel corrosion expansion stress can help predict the concrete cracking time, prevent corrosion expansion and repair...

Reliability assessment of corroded reinforced concrete structures: The effect of using random fields and nonlinear finite element analysis

One of the most severe deteriorations in reinforced concrete structures is associated with reinforcement corrosion, where the corrosion distribution shows considerable spatial variability. In the existing investigations of spatial variability of corrosion on the reliability of reinforced concrete structures, symbolic expressions are used for the...

An innovative approach to control steel reinforcement corrosion by self-healing

The corrosion of reinforced steel, and subsequent reinforced concrete degradation, is a major concern for infrastructure durability. New materials with specific, tailor-made properties or the establishment of optimum construction regimes are among the many approaches to improving civil structure performance. Ideally, novel materials would...

Deflections and Natural Frequencies as Parameters for Structural Health Monitoring: The Effect of Fatigue and Corrosion on the Deflections and the Natural Frequencies of Reinforced Concrete Beams

The Dutch road infrastructure contains a large number of concrete bridges and viaducts. Malfunction of these bridges and viaducts has large financial consequences. To avoid malfunctions of bridges, bridges need to be inspected frequently and actions should be taken when required. The reliability of the inspections of the health of a bridge could...

Effect of stray current on corrosion behavior of reinforcing steel: importance of cell geometry and orientation with respect to the electrical field

Stray current circulating in reinforced concrete structures may initiate corrosion or accelerate existing corrosion processes on embedded reinforcement. In some cases, the range of dangerous or unwanted interactions of stray currents under favorable conditions (environment), is much broader than is generally recognized. All these show that...

Preliminary study of life cycle cost of preventive measures and repair options for corrosion in concrete infrastructurecorrosion in concrete infrastructure

Maintenance costs of reinforced concrete infrastructure (bridges, tunnels, harbours, parking structures) are increasing due to aging of structures under aggressive exposure. Corrosion of reinforcement due to chloride ingress is the main problem for existing structures in marine and de-icing salt environments. Corrosion cannot be ruled out...

Modified Hydrotalcites as Smart Additives for Improved Corrosion Protection of Reinforced Concrete

Corrosion of reinforcing steel is a major culprit to durability and serviceability of concrete structures. This problem is highly relevant for civil engineering structures in the transport sector, such as bridges, tunnels, harbour quays and parking structures. The dominant aggressive external influence is the chloride load from de-icing salts or...