3D neutron tomography of steel reinforcement corrosion in cement-based composites

Corrosion of steel reinforcement is one of the major durability problems for reinforced concrete structures. The steel corrosion in both ordinary mortar and strain hardening cementitious composites (SHCC) has been for the first time visualized by means of neutron tomography in three dimensions with high resolution. It has been found that the steel rebar starts corroding from the bottom interface between the steel and cementitious matrix. The corrosion products mainly exist around the cracks. Microcracking SHCC has higher resistance against steel rebar corrosion than cracked ordinary mortar.