Experimental and numerical study of accelerated corrosion of steel reinforcement in concrete: Transport of corrosion products

Abstract Chloride-induced corrosion of steel reinforcement in concrete is one of the major causes for deterioration of reinforced concrete (RC) structures. Currently, there are only a limited number of coupled 3D chemo-hygro-thermo-mechanical models capable to realistically simulate corrosion process in cracked concrete. Especially moisture behavior coupled with transport of corrosion products in cracked concrete and its effect on the corrosion induced damage has not been addressed so far. In the present paper experiments performed on concrete cylinders under accelerated conditions are presented and discussed. The experiments are simulated using recently developed chemo-hygro-thermo-mechanical model. Based on the experimental results the model is verified and calibrated with respect to the parameters that are responsible for transport of rust through pores and cracks of concrete.