Performance of engineered cementitious composite covered or wrapped self-consolidating concrete beams under corrosion

Abstract

In this study, effect of Engineered Cementitious Composite (ECC) covering and wrapping on corrosion resistance and structural performance of un-corroded and corroded shear beams made of self-consolidating concrete (SCC) and light weight SCC (LWSCC) has been extensively investigated. An accelerated corrosion test on beams has been performed to reach the required high degrees of corrosion (30–40% of rebar mass loss). Both corrosion and structural performance of corroded beams has been assessed and analysed. The structural performance of un-corroded and corroded beams has also been compared. The corrosion performance has been evaluated in terms of current flow, half cell potential, actual rebar mass loss, reduction in diameter etc. The structural performance has been assessed and compared in terms of load–deflection behaviour, 1st flexure/diagonal cracking load, ultimate failure load, post cracking shear resistance, ductility and energy absorption capacity, failure load and failure modes. Composite beams with ECC covering exhibited superior corrosion resistance and post-corrosion structural performance as compared to full depth SCC or LWSCC counterparts. The performance of ECC wrapped composite beams has been found to be better than those with covering. Overall, ECC can be used as covering or wrapping in conventional SCC/LWSCC beams to enhance their corrosion resistance performance significantly.