Deterioration behavior of reinforced concrete beam under compound effects of acid-salt mist and carbon dioxide

An experimental investigation on the deterioration behavior of reinforced concrete (RC) beams under compound effects of acid-salt mist and carbon dioxide was conducted. The changes of failure mode, neutralization depth, strength loss of concrete, corrosive rate of rebar and the expansive crack width were tested. And then the relationship between the experimental time and service time was achieved with theoretical analysis. Results indicated that neutralization depth of concrete increased with time linearly while corrosion of rebar changed nonlinearly. When the concrete cracked, the corrosion increased rapidly. The bond between the corroded rebar and deteriorated concrete decreased, and then the failure mode of RC beams under flexural load change from crushing of compression concrete to yielding of rebar. The relationship between the service time and investigation time was achieved, according to the neutralization ratio of concrete and corrosion ratio of rebar respectively. It was found between the calculation results and the calculation of corrosion ratio was closer.