Modelling steel corrosion under concrete non-uniformity and structural defects. (September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yu, Yuguo; Gao, Wei; Castel, Arnaud; Liu, Airong; Feng, Yuan; Chen, Xiaojun; Mukherjee, Abhijit
• Is Part Of: Cement and concrete research. Volume 135(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-09
• Subjects: (C) Carbonation -- (C) Corrosion -- (C) Finite element analysis -- (D) Concrete -- Structural defect; Cement -- Periodicals; Cement -- Research -- Periodicals; Concrete -- Periodicals; Concrete -- Research -- Periodicals; Ciment -- Périodiques; Béton -- Périodiques; Cement; Concrete; Periodicals; 620.135
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cemconres.2020.106109
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0008-8846

Abstract

Abstract: Reinforcement corrosion is one of the most frequent durability problems among ageing concrete structures. Macrocell corrosion is greatly affected by both concrete properties and the steel-concrete interfacial conditions. Inaccurate interpretations of these characteristics lead to unrealistic estimations of early corrosion propagation. Carbonation-induced macrocell corrosion, including the impact of structural defects formed by concrete casting, is addressed in this study. The non-uniform corrosion cell created due to the progressive carbonation of concrete is numerically obtained by combining chemophysical modelling and multiscale homogenisation. The macrocell corrosion under material non-uniformity is then studied by electrochemical modelling based on finite element method. The developed method is first validated against reported experiments to further initiate an in-depth discussion on the significance of material non-uniformity on corrosion modelling either with or without structural defects. The present study is particularly important for advancing the service life monitoring and assessment of ageing concrete structures. Highlights: The frequent durability concern of macrocell corrosion is numerically investigated. The influences of concrete non-uniformity and structural defects are assessed A method coupling chemophysical and electrochemical FE modelling is developed A novel semi-empirical multiscale homogenisation scheme is established The proposed methodology is validated against a series of experimental studies