Finite element investigation of the influence of corrosion pattern on inelastic buckling and cyclic response of corroded reinforcing bars

•Impact of corrosion pattern on stress–strain behaviour of corroded bars.•Analytical modelling of post-yield buckling behaviour of corroded bars.•Finite element modelling of corroded reinforcing bars.•Impact of corrosion induced load eccentricity on buckling load of corroded bars.

An optical surface measurement technique was used to characterise three-dimensional corrosion pattern of reinforcing bars subjected to accelerated corrosion. After the optical measurement process was performed, the corroded bar specimens were tested under monotonic and cyclic axial loading. The optical measurement data were used to develop a 3D micro-fibre finite element model developed for simulation of the physical testing and parametric study of the influence of corrosion pattern on stress–strain response of corroded bars. It was observed that the irregular cross sectional shape of pitted sections has a significant influence on the inelastic buckling and nonlinear cyclic response.