Study of cracking in concrete slabs with corroding bars

Abstract

The corrosion of reinforcements generates oxides whose volumetric expansion causes radial stresses that become tensile loads in the surrounding concrete. If the corrosion products do not migrate through the pores, small amounts of corroded metal can cause stresses overpassing the tensile strength of the concrete, producing the cracking and detachment of the cover. The expansion stresses caused by the corrosion products is estimated to range from 32 to 500 MPa [1]. The cracks, initially growing parallel to the reinforcement, can affect the bearing and in-service abilities of the structure, reducing its service life cycle.