FEM simulations of cracking in RC beams due to corrosion progress

This paper presents a two-dimensional model of a reinforced concrete (RC) element with rust introduced as interface between steel and concrete. The aim of the simulation is to represent the influence of reinforcement corrosion on the concrete cover. The analysis brings information about cracking of concrete, which is considered as the main aspect of failure of a structural element. The simulation is performed using Abaqus, a computational code based on the finite element method (FEM). The damage-plasticity and the cracking models are employed to describe the concrete response to chloride corrosion effects. In particular an RC cross-section is analyzed using two alternative algorithms of nonlinear computations: implicit and explicit solution. Moreover, a three-dimensional test of a beam subject to corrosion and static loading is analyzed.