On the penetration of corrosion products from reinforcing steel into concrete due to chloride-induced corrosion

Reinforced concretes were corroded to varying degrees by exposing to cyclic NaCl spray and 40 °C drying. The amount of corrosion products and induced damage were measured using image analysis. We found that corrosion products can accumulate at steel–concrete interface as well as penetrate cement paste and deposit within hydration products, relicts of reacted slag, and air voids. As corrosion increases, the products tend to accumulate at the steel–concrete interface, while the amount penetrating cement paste remains relatively constant. Only a small amount of corrosion is needed to induce visible cover cracking. Implications on modelling time to cover cracking are discussed.