Critical review demonstrates the decisive role of moisture in reinforced concrete corrosion, highlighting durability risks in low-carbon binders.
The durability of steel-reinforced concrete is significantly influenced by moisture, which governs the transport of aggressive agents, and the initiation and propagation of reinforcing steel corrosion. Both carbonation- and chloride-induced corrosion are largely related to water penetration, with corrosion rates increasing significantly upon the arrival of waterfront to the steel surface. As the construction sector transitions toward low-carbon binders and concrete with reduced carbonation resistance, understanding internal moisture state and its transport is essential to ensuring concrete durability. This letter critically reviews the multifunctional role of moisture in corrosion-related durability, encompassing carbonation, chloride ingress, and steel corrosion. Key moisturerelated mechanisms at the steel-concrete interface (SCI), differences between carbonation- and chloride-driven corrosion, and limitations in current moisture characterization methods - both experimental and modeling - are discussed. The letter concludes by outlining research needs and opportunities.
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Zhang et al. (2026) studied this question.
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