Experimental Study and Mechanism on the Corrosion of Stressed Reinforcement Bars

Abstract

In order to understand the influence of the tensile stress on the corrosion of reinforcement bars in civil engineering, the reinforcement bars specimens were put into the liquid corrosion tank made of hydrochloric acid and distilled water by applying the tension stress on the reinforcing frame to carry out rapid corrosion. The corrosion of reinforcement bars under different tension stresses was tested by using electrochemical polarization method. The metallographic examination of reinforcement bars was carried out through the section of reinforcement bars. The corrosion mechanism of the stressed reinforcement bar was tested and analyzed. It can be known from the experimental study: First in the same corrosion condition, the larger the tensile stress is, the faster the corrosion of steel bar will be; Second corrosion current density or corrosion rate are index for evaluating corrosion rate of reinforcement bars with different tensile stresses. Corrosion potential can not be used as an index for evaluating corrosion rate of reinforcement bars with different tensile stresses; Third intercrystalline corrosion occurs inside the reinforcement bar due to micro-defects after rolling and moulding, which directly affects the mechanical properties of reinforcement bar.