Propagation of reinforcement corrosion in concrete and its effects on structural deterioration

Studies of the most recently published literature reveal that the current state of research on corrosion propagation in reinforced concrete and its effects on structural deterioration remains unsatisfactory. This is in spite of extensive and intensive research on reinforcement corrosion in concrete for the past three decades or so. This paper presents results produced from an experimental programme designed to investigate the propagation of chloride-induced reinforcement corrosion in concrete and its effects on structural deterioration. Factors that are deemed to contribute to the propagation of reinforcement corrosion and affect structural deterioration are studied. Structural behaviour of corrosion-affected concrete flexural members is examined in terms of strength, stiffness and bond. A deterioration factor is proposed in the paper in order to analyse the test results in a more systematic manner and to make maximum use of the data for uncertainty analysis. Also presented in the paper is a comparison of the test results on strength deterioration as obtained from both a destructive load test and non-destructive measurements, and a relationship between structural deterioration as determined from the two methods is derived.