Transport-Structural Modelling of Corrosion Induced Cracking

Abstract : Transport of corrosion products into pores and cracks in concrete must be considered when predicting corrosion induced cracking in reinforced concrete structures, since this transport significantly delays the onset of cracking and spalling by reducing the amount radial displacement displacement imposed on the concrete at the steel/concrete interface. We aim to model this process by means of a transport-structural approach, whereby the transport part is driven by a pressure gradient generated by the volumetric expansion due to the transformation of steel into corrosion products. This pressure driven transport was introduced in an analytical axisymmetric thickwalled cylinder model and a numerical network approach. The influence of cracking and permeability on corrosion induced cracking process with increasing inner displacement is investigated with these two approaches.