Probabilistic evaluation of chloride-induced corrosion effects on design parameters of RC beams

Abstract

The chloride-induced corrosion in reinforced concrete (RC) structures could decrease their service life. In this regard, studying the effects of corrosion on the designing parameters could prevent these costly expenses. The presence of uncertainties in the corrosion process requires probabilistic models to be applied. Therefore, in this study, Monte Carlo simulations have been used to investigate the effects of corrosion in RC elements. To do so, the remained area of reinforcements, changes in yield stress, ductility and flexural capacity of RC beam sections under propagating corrosion were studied. These changes were applied to a singly reinforced beam model and its behavior in the flexural limit state was investigated. Results have indicated that statistical dispersion in remained area of rebars and their yield stress increases over time. As a result of a decrease in yield stress, the balanced steel ratio in cross-section increases. Moreover, the ductility of the beam decreases as corrosion propagates. Reliability analysis of the beam in different conditions emphasized the deteriorating effect of reducing concrete cover, increasing the w/c ratio and using reinforcements with smaller diameters or lower yield stress. Furthermore, reliability analysis of corroded RC beams can effectively be used in planning inspections of existing structures.