Structural behavior of corroded reinforced concrete beams under sustained loading

This paper presents the results of an experimental study designed to investigate the combined effects of corrosion and sustained loads on the structural performance of reinforced concrete beams. A total of eight RC beams, including both uncorroded beams and corroded ones accelerated by the impressed current method, were tested. All the beams were subjected to a four-point sustained bending load which was equivalent to 17%, 33% or 50% of the designed ultimate load, respectively. Corrosion degree, crack patterns, crack width and mid-span deflection of the beams were monitored during the test. The results showed that reinforcement corrosion had no obvious effect on the transverse crack spacing and a slight effect on the development of transverse crack width for the beams under simultaneous loading and corrosion. A higher load level and a lower current density allow for more sufficient oxidation of corrosion products with a larger volume expansion rate, leading to premature initiation and rapid propagation of corrosion cracking, and more obvious deflection development of RC beams. For a beam under simultaneous loading and reinforcement corrosion, the effect of reinforcement corrosion on its deflection cannot be ignored, because it may exceed creep effect at a relatively low corrosion degree.