Multi-Scale Characterization of Corrosion Initiation of Preloaded Hybrid Fiber-Reinforced Concrete Composites

Abstract:

Many reinforced concrete structures susceptible to corrosion damage are subjected to externally applied loads, causing cracking. These cracks increase the permeability of the material, accelerating the ingress of corrosion-inducing deleterious agents. In this paper, the effect of multiple microcracking and macrocrack formation on corrosion initiation was investigated. A hybrid fiber-reinforced concrete (HyFRC), which forms ductile, distributed microcracking prior to dominant crack localization due to multiple tiers of fiber reinforcement, is being studied for its performance against corrosion damage. The effect of matrix cracking on corrosion initiation was studied with beam specimens preloaded in flexure prior to long-term corrosion exposure. Reinforced HyFRC composites were found to have a delayed corrosion initiation response due to reductions in crack widths and suppression of splitting cracks, compared to conventional reinforced concrete. The influence of microcracks on corrosion is studied using X-ray micro-computed tomography (μCT) on reinforced fiber-reinforced cementitious composites and reinforced mortar preloaded in tension.

• Periodical: Key Engineering Materials (Volume 711)
• Pages: 195-202
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.711.195
• Online since: September 2016
• Authors: Wilson Nguyen*, Jacob F. Duncan, Paulo J.M. Monteiro, Claudia P. Ostertag
• Keywords: Corrosion, Hybrid Fiber-Reinforced Concrete, Micro-Computed Tomography, Microcrack, Multiple Cracking, Reinforced Concrete

References

[1] Mohammed TU, Otsuki N, Hamada H. Corrosion of steel bars in cracked concrete under marine environment. J Mater Civ Eng. 2003; 15(5): 460-9.

DOI: 10.1061/(asce)0899-1561(2003)15:5(460)

[2] Sahmaran M, Yaman IO. Influence of transverse crack width on reinforcement corrosion initiation and propagation in mortar beams. Can J Civ Eng. 2008; 35(3): 236-45.

DOI: 10.1139/l07-117

[3] Andrade C, Alonso C, Molina FJ. Cover cracking as a function of bar corrosion: Part I-Experimental test. Mater Struct. 1993; 26(8): 453-64.

DOI: 10.1007/bf02472805

[4] Blunt J, Ostertag CP. Performance-based approach for the design of a deflection hardened hybrid fiber-reinforced concrete. J Eng Mech. 2009; 135(9): 978-86.

DOI: 10.1061/(asce)0733-9399(2009)135:9(978)

[5] Andrade C, Alonso C. Corrosion rate monitoring in the laboratory and on-site. Constr Build Mater. 1996; 10(5): 315-28.

[6] Wang K, Jansen DC, Shah SP, Karr AF. Permeability study of cracked concrete. Cem Concr Compos. 1997; 27(3): 381-93.

[7] Goto Y. Cracks formed in concrete around deformed tension bars. ACI J Proc. 1971; 68(4): 244-51.

DOI: 10.14359/11325

[8] Yildirim G, Sahmaran M, Balcikanli M, Ozbay E, Lachemi M. Influence of cracking and healing on the gas permeability of cementitious composites. Constr Build Mater. 2015; 85: 217-26.

DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2015.02.095