Prediction of concrete crack width under combined reinforcement corrosion and applied load

Li, Chun and Yang, Shangtong (2011) Prediction of concrete crack width under combined reinforcement corrosion and applied load. Journal of Engineering Mechanics, 137. pp. 722-731. ISSN 0733-9399 (print), 1943-7889 (online)

Abstract

As a global problem for reinforced concrete structures located in chloride and/or carbon dioxide laden environment, reinforcing steel corrosion in concrete costs about $100 billion per annum world‐wide for the maintenance and repairs primarily of premature concrete cracking and spalling. The continual demands for greater load for infrastructure only exacerbate the problem. This paper attempts to examine the whole process of longitudinal cracking in concrete structures under the combined effect of reinforcement corrosion and applied load. A model for residual stiffness of cracked concrete is derived using the concept of fracture energy. Based on the analysis of stress distributions in concrete a theoretical model for crack width on concrete surface is developed. From the worked example it is found that the corrosion rate is the most important single factor that affects both the time to surface cracking and crack width growth. The paper concludes that the developed model is one of very few theoretical models that can predict with reasonable accuracy the crack width on the surface of reinforced concrete structures under the combined effect of reinforcement corrosion and applied load. The developed model can be used as a tool to assess the serviceability of corrosion affected concrete infrastructure. Timely repairs have the potential to prolong the service life of reinforced concrete structures.

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