Effectiveness of UHTCC to Retard Cover Expansive Cracking Due to Corrosion of Rebar in RC Structure

Abstract:

Ultra high toughness cementitious composite (UHTCC) shows a unique characteristic of limit the crack width with multiple fine cracks whether it is subjected to tensile load or bending load. The failure pattern of UHTCC exhibits saturated multiple fine cracks, so the durability of structures will be improved markedly by utilizing UHTCC partly or entirely instead of concrete. In this study, considering the tensile strain capacity of UHTCC, a formula for calculating the critical rebar corrosion ratio when the UHTCC cover cracking due to rebar corrosion through the theory of plasticity and cylindrical cavity expansion theory. The effectiveness of UHTCC for restraining the cover cracking due to rebar corrosion has been proved by a calculated example. The influences on critical rebar corrosion when the UHTCC cover cracking due to rebar corrosion have been analyzed. The analytical results showed that UHTCC could effectively retard the cover expansive cracking due to corrosion of reinforcing bars, and prolong the service life of concrete structures subjected to the environment being at risk of corrosion.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volumes 243-249)
• Pages: 5694-5698
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.243-249.5694
• Online since: May 2011
• Authors: Xin Hua Cai, Zhen He, Shi Lang Xu
• Keywords: Corroded Expansion Crack, Cover, Reinforcing Bar Corrosion, Service Life, Ultra High Toughness

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