Corrosion Of Reinforcing Steel Research Articles

An Experimental Study Incorporating Carbon Fiber Composite Bars and Wraps for Concrete Performance and Failure Insight

Corrosion of conventional steel reinforcement is responsible for numerous structurally deficient bridges, which is a multi-billion-dollar challenge that creates a vicious cycle of maintenance, repair, and replacement of infrastructure. Repair of existing structures with fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) has become widespread due to multiple advantages. Carbon FRP’s superior tensile strength and stiffness make it particularly effective in shear and flexural strengthening of reinforced concrete (RC) beams. This experimental study incorporates carbon fiber polymer composite bars and wraps to study and report on the flexural behavior of RC beams. By employing a combination of CFRP bar and wrap for strengthening RC beams, this study observed an approximate 95% improvement in flexural load capacity relative to control RC beams without strengthening. This substantial enhancement highlights the effectiveness of integrating CFRP in structural applications. Nevertheless, the key observation is the failure mode due to this combination providing significant insights into the changes facilitated by this combination approach.

Predicting corrosion behaviour of steel reinforcement in eco-friendly coral aggregate concrete based on hybrid machine learning methods

ABSTRACT This study proposes a machine learning-assisted method for assessing steel reinforcement corrosion, utilising data on chloride ion concentration (CIC) and chloride ion concentration threshold (CCT) from eco-friendly coral aggregate concrete (EFCAC). A total of 2185 data points were collected to establish the EFCAC-CIC database. A multi-objective slime mould optimised support vector regression (MOSMA-SVR) model for EFCAC-CIC was developed. The significance of each feature to EFCAC-CIC was analysed. Subsequently, a graphical user interface (GUI) was developed based on the MOSMA-SVR model. Finally, the GUI and EFCAC-CCT were used to assess the corrosion behaviour of reinforcement. Results indicate that the MOSMA-SVR model provides predictions that are closer to the actual values, with smaller mean errors and standard deviations. The performance indicators, including coefficient of determination, mean absolute error, mean absolute percentage error, mean square error, root mean square error, and a20-index, of the MOSMA-SVR model are 0.987, 0.0124, 0.0332, 2.91e − 4, 0.0171 and 0.9991, respectively, and they are superior to those of the other tested models. The water type and the water–binder ratio are identified as the two most critical factors. Furthermore, by integrating the GUI and feature importance analysis results, chloride salt-resistant EFCAC can be designed. When this is combined with the GUI and EFCAC-CCT, the corrosion of rebar in EFCAC can be assessed in real time.

Metaheuristic optimization based- ensemble learners for the carbonation assessment of recycled aggregate concrete

This study addresses the enhanced prevalence of carbonation, a process accelerating steel reinforcement corrosion in recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) compared to natural aggregate concrete. Traditional carbonation depth assessment methods in RAC are noted for being labor-intensive, costly, and requiring specialized expertise. There is a noted deficiency in the application of machine learning techniques for accurately predicting carbonation depth in RAC, a gap this study aims to fill. Utilizing the extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) technique, recognized for its efficacy in ensemble machine learning, this study innovates in modeling carbonation depth in RAC. It emphasizes the criticality of hyperparameter optimization of the XGBoost algorithm for maximizing model accuracy. To achieve this, three novel metaheuristic optimization algorithms, including reptile search algorithm (RSA), Aquila optimizer (AO), and arithmetic optimization algorithm (AOA), were introduced as global optimizers for tunning the XGBoost hyperparameters. The study was underpinned by a comprehensive database compiled from extensive literature, facilitating the development of an accurate RAC carbonation depth model. Through rigorous evaluations, including sensitivity analyses, the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and runtime comparisons, the synthesized models demonstrated exceptional accuracy, with coefficients of determination exceeding 0.95. The XGBoost-AO algorithm, in particular, showcased superior performance, with the XGBoost-RSA algorithm providing efficient predictions considering runtime. SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) interpretation highlighted environmental conditions as significant carbonation depth influencers. A user-friendly graphical user interface was developed, enhancing the practical utility of the findings for predicting carbonation depth progression in RAC over time. This research significantly advances the predictive accuracy for carbonation depth in RAC, contributing to the sustainable management of concrete infrastructures and emphasizing the integration of advanced machine learning techniques with metaheuristic optimization for environmental and structural engineering advancements.

XGBoost algorithm based estimation of near surface mounted FRP rod-to-concrete bond strength and failure mode

Using fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) in reinforced concrete (RC) structures can mitigate the colossal repair costs due to reinforcing steel corrosion. Hence, FRP rod/bar is gaining wider applications in diverse RC structures as a partial or full replacement for steel rebar. The FRP rod-to-concrete interfacial bond is pivotal in transferring stresses from concrete to FRP rods. This study develops a novel prediction model to estimate the near surface mounted FRP rod-to-concrete bond strength as well as the failure type using five machine learning (ML) algorithms, namely, linear regression, decision tree, gradient boosting tree, random forest, and extreme gradient boosting (XGB). The performance of the developed models was compared with that of four bond strength design guidelines and one analytical model. A database comprising 416 experimental datasets was constructed and used for model training and validation. Based on statistical performance metrics, the precision of the XGB algorithm was superior to that of the other ML models, design guidelines, and analytical model. Feature importance analysis based on the SHapley Additive exPlanations theory and partial dependence plot was performed. The results show that the bond length had the most significant influence on the bond strength, followed by the tensile strength of the FRP composite, diameter of the FRP rod, compressive strength of concrete, and elastic modulus of the FRP composite. A graphical user interface was developed and offers a user friendly, free access, and simple tool for estimating the bond strength and failure type of FRP rods in concrete.

X-ray computed tomography to observe the presence of water in macropores of cementitious materials

Corrosion of steel reinforcement in concrete is a common degradation mechanism occurring in infrastructures worldwide. Even though extensive research has been conducted over the last decades to accurately predict the influence of steel corrosion on concrete durability, a comprehensive understanding of several micro-scale processes simultaneously involved in the corrosion mechanism is still lacking. The application of X-ray Computed Tomography (X-ray CT) can contribute to elucidate these processes, since this technique allows observing the internal status of specimens non-destructively, over time, and with a spatial resolution in the range of µm. Nevertheless, the relatively low sensitivity of light elements (e.g., hydrogen and oxygen) to X-ray CT may hinder the observation of solution within the cementitious matrix. This consideration is discussed in this letter. The results of this study show that the detection of solution in macropores (e.g., air voids) through X-ray CT is not limited by the relatively low attenuation coefficient of the fluid per se, but more by the spatial resolution at which acquisitions are performed and by the dimensions of the porous volume where solution penetrates. The observations reported in this letter may open several opportunities to further study the influence of the moisture conditions of air voids on several degradation mechanisms of reinforced cementitious materials (e.g., steel corrosion, freeze-thaw damage), which have been rarely investigated with X-ray CT according to the literature. The application of these findings could significantly deepen the understanding of several micro- scale processes that affect the durability of reinforced cementitious materials which still need to be elucidated, as further discussed in the present letter.

Social Parameter’s Role in BEM-PSO-Based Inverse Analysis for Locating Corrosion of Reinforced Concrete

The objective of this research is to investigate the effect of social parameter on the performance of boundary element inverse analysis (BEIA) to determine the location of reinforcing steel corrosion in concrete. BEIA was constructed by integrating the Boundary Element Method (BEM) and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) (PSO). BEM was used to calculate the corrosion potential on the whole surface of reinforced concrete. The cost function for detecting corrosion of reinforcing steel in concrete was evaluated using PSO. BEIA was conducted with 15 electrical potential data on the surface of reinforced concrete as a reference, such as from half-cell potential measurement. Numerical simulations of reinforced concrete with a single reinforcement reveal a difference in the speed of BEIA in locating corrosion sites. The higher the social parameter value, the faster the particles tend to migrate. However, if the parameter value is too high, the number of iterations required for the particles to converge increases, which has a negative effect on locating the corrosion point. Consequently, the variation of the social parameter affects the performance of BEIA in detecting the location of corrosion in reinforced concrete.

Study on carbonation of low strength concrete made of brick aggregate

In urban and industrial settings, one of the most prevalent durability challenges faced by reinforced concrete (RC) structures is the corrosion of steel reinforcement due to carbonation. While numerous studies have explored the characteristics of stone aggregate concrete concerning carbonation-induced corrosion of reinforcement, there is limited research on concrete made with brick aggregates. As a result, an investigation into the impact of carbonation on pre-existing reinforced concrete structures utilizing brick aggregates has been undertaken, and its findings have been compared with existing research. Within this study, a total of 84 concrete core samples, with diameters measuring 67 mm and 50 mm, were extracted from selected structural components of four pre-existing reinforced concrete structures utilizing brick aggregates, which ranged in age from 17 to 73 years. The collection of core samples and their testing procedures adhered to the relevant ASTM methods. Furthermore, carbonation depths were assessed in accordance with BS standards using phenolphthalein solution. Additionally, 24 concrete dust samples were gathered from the same locations to establish correlations with the core sample results. The experimental outcomes revealed a direct relationship between carbonation depth and concrete age, indicating that carbonation depth increases with concrete age. This study also demonstrated that the rate of carbonation is influenced by the concrete's grade, with an inverse relationship between them. Therefore, it is crucial to consider carbonation in scenarios involving low-strength concrete, particularly those with compressive strengths below 25 MPa, when the concrete is exposed to harsh environmental conditions and inadequate concrete cover. Consequently, when constructing new structures, employing relatively high-strength concrete is advisable to ensure extended service life by mitigating the effects of carbonation.

Service Life Prediction of Inhibitors and Concrete Surface Coatings in Concrete-Embedded Reinforcing Steel Corrosion Caused by Chloride

Service Life Prediction of Inhibitors and Concrete Surface Coatings in Concrete-Embedded Reinforcing Steel Corrosion Caused by Chloride

Determination of the ability of migrating steel corrosion inhibitors to passivate corroding reinforcement in reinforced concrete structures

Introduction. The corrosion condition of steel reinforcement in reinforced concrete structures and products is the main factor determining their bearing capacity and durability. The alkalinity of the pore liquid of concrete (at pH > 11.8) in reinforced concrete structures and products under normal conditions ensures the passive state of steel reinforcement. In the presence or when chloride, sulfate and other analogous ions enter the concrete, the steel reinforcement of reinforced concrete structures and products depassives, despite the pH value > 11.8, and begins to corrode. In addition, depassivation and subsequent corrosion of steel reinforcement occur during carbonation (neutralization) of the protective layer of concrete due to a decrease in pH < 11.8. One of the promising options for slowing down or stopping the corrosion processes of steel reinforcement is currently the use of migrating corrosion inhibitors.
 
 The aim of the work was to obtain experimental data on the ability of migrating steel corrosion inhibitors to inhibit or completely stop the corrosion of reinforcement in reinforced concrete structures and products initiated by the presence of chloride ions (Cl-) in concrete or neutralization of the protective layer of concrete in relation to steel reinforcement.
 
 Materials and methods. The following types of migrating steel corrosion inhibitors were used for testing:
 
 – Cortec MCI-2020 (manufacturer – KORTEK RUS (KORTEK) LLC, suppliers – Ettrilat LLC, MONUMENT LLC);
 
 – IFKHAN-80 (manufacturer and supplier – IFKHAN LLC);
 
 – Basf Master-Protect 8000 CI (former name Protectosil ® CIT. Suppliers – MBS Construction Systems LLC, MPKM LLC, LKM-FLEET LLC).
 
 The determination of the ability of migrating steel corrosion inhibitors to inhibit or completely stop the corrosion of reinforcement was carried out by accelerated electrochemical research methods in accordance with State Standard 31383-2008 "Protection of concrete and reinforced concrete structures from corrosion. Test methods".
 
 Results. All three types of migrating steel corrosion inhibitors inhibit corrosion of steel reinforcement initiated by the presence of chloride ions in concrete by the age of 90 days. All three types of migrating steel corrosion inhibitors by the age of 30 days do not inhibit the corrosion of steel reinforcement initiated by concrete carbonation.
 
 Conclusions. According to the results of the work, it was revealed that the migrating steel corrosion inhibitors inhibit the corrosion of steel reinforcement initiated by the presence of chloride ions in concrete, while the corrosion initiated by the carbonation of concrete is not slowed down or stopped by migrating steel corrosion inhibitors.

Effect of coarse calcareous aggregates on corrosion of steel reinforcement in marine concretes

Finely ground limestone, perhaps as part cement replacement, has been shown to reduce concrete permeability and enhance strength. Whether this holds also for coarse limestone aggregates is of both practical and environmental interest, particularly the effect on corrosion of steel reinforcement. This is confirmed herein with exposure tests over 14 years for a range of concretes exposed to a high chloride environment. Importantly, these concretes also showed delayed initiation of reinforcement corrosion and lower long-term corrosion losses compared with similar concretes made with coarse igneous or siliceous aggregates. The observations are attributed to enhanced bonding between cement-hydration products and the limestone aggregate surfaces. These findings are important both for reducing environmental impacts and greenhouse gasses and for extending the durability of reinforced concrete structures.

Comparative study of models predicting punching shear capacity of strengthened corroded RC slab-column joints

ABSTRACT Degradation in reinforced concrete (RC) members associated with rebar corrosion in old buildings is one major concern that can significantly affect the strength and serviceability of RC structures. Strengthening existing structures using FRP can comprise complex assessment and design processes. This study addresses the critical issue of modeling the behavior associated with steel reinforcement corrosion in RC slab-column joints (SCJs). Three modeling methods, namely artificial neural network (ANN), Eureqa’s symbolic regression algorithm, and analytical modeling, are proposed to predict the punching shear (PS) capacity of corroded RC SCJs by accounting for the changes in material properties due to corrosion and the strengthening provided by different types of FRP. The accuracy of the proposed models is validated through comparisons with experimental results and a verified finite element (FE) model that considers material deterioration and bond degradation. The results demonstrate that the proposed models offer more accurate PS capacity predictions than existing design codes. Among the considered prediction models, the ANN model exhibits superior performance and is recommended for PS capacity prediction. A practical design tool in the form of a graphical user interface (GUI) was created to facilitate the assessment and prediction of the PS behavior of corroded RC SCJs. Engineers can conveniently use this GUI to evaluate and predict the performance of such joints.

Axial compressive behavior and model analysis of BFRP-jacketed corroded and pre-damaged circular reinforced concrete columns

Corrosion of steel reinforcements degrades the structural performance of reinforced concrete (RC) columns under static and seismic loads. Such corroded RC columns are usually retrofitted with fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP). However, existing studies on the retrofitting of RC columns with corrosion and load-induced damage are limited. To confirm the effectiveness of basalt FRP (BFRP) jacketing on the compressive behavior of corroded and pre-damaged RC columns, this study performed axial compression tests on eleven circular RC columns. The columns were fabricated, corroded, pre-damaged, and then jacketed with BFRP composites and reloaded to investigate the effects of BFRP layer number, corrosion ratio, and pre-damage degree. When jacketed by BFRP, the ultimate strength and ultimate strain of RC columns increased with BFRP layer numbers, ranging from 5% to 98% and 448% to 926%, respectively. Further, the ultimate strength and elastic modulus of the jacketed RC columns decreased with the increase in pre-damage degrees and corrosion ratios, while the ultimate strain was little affected. Buckling and corrosion of longitudinal bars significantly reduced the bar stresses at the ultimate state of BFRP-jacketed RC columns and resulted in local rupture of BFRP. This adverse effect became more pronounced as the corrosion ratio increased, but was alleviated by BFRP jacketing. On the other hand, a refined rebar stress-strain model was developed by addressing the effects of buckling, corrosion, and lateral confinement. Further, a feasible constitutive model for corroded hoop-confined columns was determined by validating the existing test results. Finally, models for the ultimate strength, ultimate strain, and stress-strain response of BFRP-jacketed corroded and pre-damaged RC columns were developed.

Effect of incorporating recycled macro fibres on the properties of ultra-high-performance seawater sea-sand concrete

Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) is an ideal material for constructing marine infrastructures, but faces obstacles such as limited local raw materials (i.e., freshwater and river-sand) and corrosion of steel reinforcement. Non-metallic reinforcement is preferable for reinforcing marine UHPC, especially when seawater and sea-sand are used to develop ultra-high-performance seawater sea-sand concrete (USSC). Recently, the authors' group proposed a cost-efficient UHPC reinforced with discrete macro fibres mechanically processed from waste glass fibre-reinforced polymer (GFRP) composites. This present study aimed to explore the potential application of incorporating macro fibres in USSC. A series of tests were conducted to investigate the fundamental properties of macro fibre reinforced USSC with the examined variables including the content (0 %, 2 %, 4 %, and 6 %) and lengths (30 mm and 60 mm) of macro fibres. Comparisons were made between USSC and UHPC with river-sand and freshwater (UTRC), which were both reinforced with macro fibres. The results revealed that incorporating macro fibres in USSC improved the compressive toughness index (CTI) and flexural toughness by up to 84.00 % and 40.15 times respectively, but decreased the workability and compressive strength by up to 42.22 % and 21.45 % respectively. The effect of incorporating macro fibres on the properties of USSC was more prominent than that of its counterpart of UTRC. A theoretical model was then developed for predicting the flexural toughness of various concrete with macro fibres based on the regression analysis on the available test results.

Avaliação probabilística de estruturas de concreto sob corrosão – revisão sistemática da literatura

Abstract The evaluation of service conditions of concrete structures has still been carried out through implicit knowledge based on the expertise and knowledge of inspectors, who classify structures based on subjective criteria. The main degradation mechanism of reinforced and prestressed concrete structures is the corrosion of steel reinforcements, with expressive maintenance and repair costs. The phenomenon of corrosion in concrete structures has a complex behavior and presents several uncertainties, and deterministic analyzes can produce very conservative responses, which can unnecessarily increase maintenance costs, thus justifying probabilistic approaches. This article then presents a systematic literature review of articles that address the evaluation of concrete structures under reinforcement corrosion using a probabilistic approach. In this regard, 94 journal articles obtained through an appropriate review protocol were reviewed. Thus, the summary of the main proposed methodologies was carried out, as well as the identification of research gaps on the subject.

Resistivity Method Evaluation of Corroded OPS-Concrete

Many reinforced concrete (RC) structures are built around coastal areas or above the sea, which has very high risk of corrosion. Steel reinforcement corrosion in RC structures can cause failure of structural if not taken into account. Therefore, in this research, it is very important how durable oil palm shells (OPS) in corrosive area. One way to determine the durability of concrete without damaging it is to use the non-destructive testing method, which in this research uses the resistivity method. The method can evaluate the durability of concrete due to corrosion in OPS concrete. The effect of the percentage addition of OPS (10%, 20%, 30%, and 40%) and the addition of corrosion level (0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 2%, 3%, and 4%) were also analysed. The results show that adding an oil palm shell (OPS) and the corrosion rate with natural and impressed current methods reduce the flexural strength of the concrete and the value of the resistivity of the concrete. The results show that adding an oil palm shell (OPS) and the corrosion rate with natural and impressed current methods reduce the flexural strength of the concrete and the value of the resistivity of the concrete. The resistivity value decreases along with the addition of the corrosion rate on each specimen.

Flexural Behavior of Repaired Reinforced Concrete Beams Due to Corrosion of Steel Reinforcement Using Grouting and FRP Sheet Strengthening

One of the common causes of damage to the concrete structures close to the sea line is corrosion on the steel reinforcement in the concrete, which may cause spalling on the concrete cover. This paper presents the results of the simulation of the corroded reinforced concrete beams, which were repaired using the grouting method and FRP strengthening. The concrete cover of the beam specimens on the tensile side was filled with grouted concrete instead of filled with normal concrete to simulate the repair of concrete spalling. Three types of beam specimens were prepared and tested under a monotonic loading. BG and BPF were the specimens for beams with grouting only and beams with grouting and flexural strengthening using FRP sheets, respectively. Flexural strengthening using FRP sheets was carried out to restore the flexural capacity. As a comparison, control beams were also prepared in the form of normal reinforced concrete (BN). The results showed that the BG beam had a capacity of only about 50% compared to the control beam (BN). However, applying flexural strengthening using FRP sheet as on the type BGF beams showed that it had approximately the same capacity as BN specimens. This indicated that the repair method using grouting on damaged concrete covers and strengthening using FRP sheets was an effective alternative to repairing the corroded reinforced concrete beams. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2024-010-01-014 Full Text: PDF

Application of wavelet transform techniques for corrosion assessment of embedded rebars in RC elements using electromechanical impedance

Corrosion of steel reinforcement embedded in concrete significantly influences the integrity and durability attributes of reinforced concrete structures. Monitoring of the early age corrosion of the reinforcements can contribute to an effective planning of structural maintenance and restoration. This paper demonstrates an innovative approach of monitoring the rate of corrosion (mass loss due to corrosion) of steel bars embedded in concrete by capturing conductance signature using Piezoelectric sensors (PZT) by Electromechanical Impedance Technique. In the recent times Wavelet Transform (WT) based different techniques have been proved to be promising techniques for different structural health monitoring assessment. This study aims to comprehensively use the WT techniques based on EMI signals to assess the corrosion levels in the reinforcement embedded in RC members. Specifically, the study focuses on capturing the progression of corrosion levels using the RMSD index derived from the DWT, CWT and WPT analysis of conductance signatures. WT techniques provides energy values of conductance signatures. Energy level of the signatures decreases with the increase of corrosion levels and deviation of energy level between current and pristine stage is measured using statistical index Root Mean Square Deviation (RMSD). Robust relationship between the RMSD index and the corrosion mass loss ratio through nonlinear curve fitting have been derived and presented using data captured from the 48 specimens of concrete cylinders with embedded reinforcement. At last, the comparison between the actual mass loss ratio and the predicted mass loss ratio derived from these techniques have been made for the validation of the proposed relation of predicted mass loss due to corrosion.

Research on time-varying degradation of RC buildings coupled environmental effects and corrosion-induced damage from multi-scale

Corrosion of steel reinforcement in reinforced concrete (RC) buildings is influenced by several factors, including oxygen content, chloride ion diffusion, concrete damage, and humidity. A numerical method is presented to evaluate the long-term structural performance of RC buildings under environmental conditions, which takes into account the impact of steel corrosion-induced damage from multi-scale. The macro-index used for calculation is the level of reinforcement corrosion-induced damage, which considers the inter-connected effects of oxygen content, chloride ion, moisture transport, mechanical stresses, and corrosion uncertainties. In the case of RC beams, corrosion tends to occur more severely on the outer edge near concrete surface. When the corrosion factor is taken as 1.0, the calculated compression side corrosion rate of RC beam agrees well with experimental results. Due to the influence of multiple factors, the corrosion of tension-side reinforcement exhibits some degree of variability. Furthermore, the corrosion of tension-side longitudinal reinforcement in RC beams gradually intensifies from beam ends towards mid-span, with corrosion at mid-span being particularly significant. The relationship between corrosion rate and corrosion time obtained from tests falls within the range of calculation results, and the calculated results from micro-scale align favorably with tests conducted to measure crack width.

Localized corrosion propagation of steel in cracked mortar and long-term corrosion of steel reinforcement in cracked concrete in seawater environment

A custom-designed wire beam electrode (WBE) covered by cracked mortar was applied to study the localized corrosion propagation of steel reinforcement in seawater. Additionally, steel-reinforced concrete specimens with cracks were monitored by EIS methods to study the long-term corrosion of steel in a real marine environment for 1920 days. The results revealed that corrosion initiates from the crack and then propagates to other electrodes through the steel-mortar interface. The number of anodic areas first increases and then decreases. The corrosion current density of steel reinforcement in cracked concrete increases exponentially with prolonged exposure time in a real marine environment.

Evaluation of steel corrosion-induced concrete damage using electrical resistivity measurements

The main objective of this research study is to demonstrate the feasibility of Electrical Resistivity (ER) measurements as an in-situ, non-destructive evaluation method for monitoring progressive damage in concrete due to steel corrosion, particularly in a marine environment. To this end, a series of laboratory experiments is performed to investigate the variation of ER values in a total of 108 reinforced concrete cubes, each with a side dimension of 200 mm. The impressed current technique is utilized to accelerate the corrosion of steel reinforcement in the concrete cubes submerged in 3.0% NaCl solution, which simulates various degrees of concrete degradation. ER measurements are performed before and after the accelerated corrosion tests on the surface of concrete specimens. It is demonstrated that ER is an excellent NDE method for the monitoring of progressive concrete damage associated with chloride-induced steel corrosion.