Experimental investigation of time dependent non-linear 3D relationship between critical carbonation depth and corrosion of steel in carbonated concrete

Abstract

This paper aims at the experimental investigation of time dependent non-linear relationship between critical carbonation depth and corrosion rate of steel in carbonated concrete by laboratory controlled experimentation under severe environmental condition. In this research, three-dimensional experimental observations are taken consecutively involving carbonation depth, half-cell potential and elapsed time as well as the gravimetric corrosion mass loss. The experimental observations revealed an interesting non-linear relationship between the above said measurements due to the varying resistivity of carbonated concrete. It is also found that the carbonation induced corrosion does not start until the carbonation depth reaches a certain critical level from the steel rebar and the half-cell potential values become constant after carbonation reaches the critical depth and then start rising again after carbonation reaches the rebar level.