Interaction between compressive load and corrosive-ion attack on reinforced concrete with accelerated potentiostatic corrosion

•Corrosive cracking of reinforced concrete subjected to coupled effects was studied.•The critical compressive load level for the corrosion rate of steel bar was given.•The coupled effect of corrosion solution and compressive load was analyzed.•The order of corrosive action induced by corrosion solutions was obtained.

The corrosive-cracking behavior of two types of reinforced concrete accelerated by a potentiostat and sustained compressive load was studied. The corrosion-rate function of steel bar in reinforced concrete based on electric-current evolution and the critical-cracking model of reinforced concrete considering the compressive load influence parameter were established. Subsequently, the interaction effects among compressive load, corrosion solutions, and materials on the corrosive cracking of reinforced concrete were proposed. The microstructures of corroded steel bar in seawater and compound solution were observed by SEM. Results showed that under the accelerated potentiostatic condition, there was interaction effect between compressive load and corrosive-ion attack on reinforced concrete. The compressive load had a threshold value for corrosion rate of steel bar and could increase the lateral tensile strength of reinforced concrete. Seawater and compound solution (1% NaCl + 0.5% MgSO4) could result in the increment of the critical compressive load, and decrease the lateral tensile strength of reinforced concrete.