Damage induced by continued corrosion in concrete repair systems

Abstract

Corrosion of steel reinforcement is the main cause of deterioration in reinforced concrete structures. After the repair, corrosion of the steel might continue and even accelerate. While the development of the corrosion cell depends on many parameters and is difficult to control, the occurrence of visible damage in some cases can be delayed and controlled by use of a suitable repair material. One of the promising solutions for application in concrete repair is strain hardening cementitious composite (SHCC). A lattice type model is used to simulate the experimentally observed behaviour of SHCC and non-fibre reinforced material in accelerated reinforcement corrosion tests. Further on, the same model is used to investigate performance of SHCC in concrete repair system exposed to continued corrosion. The influence of fibre addition, different surface roughness, bond strength and concrete substrate strength played a significant role on the resulting crack pattern, crack width and final failure mode of repair systems. It is expected that this approach will enable practical recommendations for the type of repair material and substrate preparation for specific repair and durability requirements.Structural EngineeringCivil Engineering and Geoscience