• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.100-107
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• 2005

Reinforcing steel bars in reinforced concrete structures are protected from corrosion by passive film on the steel surface inside concrete with high alkalinity. However, when the passive film breaks down due to chloride ion ingressed into the RC structures, a corrosion initiates at the surface of steel bars. Then, internal pressure by volume expansion of corrosion products in reinforcing bars induces cracking and spalling of cover concrete, which reduces not only durability performance but also structural performance in RC structures. In this paper, a service life prediction of RC structures is carried out by using a micro-mechanics based corrosion model. The corrosion model is composed of a chloride penetration model to evaluate the initiation of corrosion and an electric corrosion cell model and an oxygen diffusion model to evaluate the rate and the accumulated amounts of corrosion. Then, a corrosion cracking model is combined to the models to evaluate critical amount of corrosion product for initiation cracking in cover concrete. By implementing the models into a finite element analysis program, a time and space dependent corrosion analysis and a service life prediction of RC structures due to chloride attack are simulated and the results of the analysis are compared with test results. The effect of crack width on the corrosion and the service life of the RC structures are analyzed and discussed.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.713-732
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• 2008

Serviceability and durability of the concrete members can be seriously affected by the corrosion of steel rebar. Carbonation front and or chloride ingress can destroy the passive film on rebar and may set the corrosion (oxidation process). Depending on the level of oxidation (expansive corrosion products/rust) damage to the cover concrete takes place in the form of expansion, cracking and spalling or delamination. This makes the concrete unable to develop forces through bond and also become unprotected against further degradation from corrosion; and thus marks the end of service life for corrosion-affected structures. This paper presents an analytical model that predicts the weight loss of steel rebar and the corresponding time from onset of corrosion for the known corrosion rate and thus can be used for the determination of time to cover cracking in corrosion affected RC member. This model uses fully the thick-walled cylinder approach. The gradual crack propagation in radial directions (from inside) is considered when the circumferential tensile stresses at the inner surface of intact concrete have reached the tensile strength of concrete. The analysis is done separately with and without considering the stiffness of reinforcing steel and rust combine along with the assumption of zero residual strength of cracked concrete. The model accounts for the time required for corrosion products to fill a porous zone before they start inducing expansive pressure on the concrete surrounding the steel rebar. The capability of the model to produce the experimental trends is demonstrated by comparing the model's predictions with the results of experimental data published in the literature. The effect of considering the corroded reinforcing steel bar stiffness is demonstrated. A sensitivity analysis has also been carried out to show the influence of the various parameters. It has been found that material properties and their inter-relations significantly influence weight loss of rebar. Time to cover cracking from onset of corrosion for the same weight loss is influenced by corrosion rate and state of oxidation of corrosion product formed. Time to cover cracking from onset of corrosion is useful in making certain decisions pertaining to inspection, repair, rehabilitation, replacement and demolition of RC member/structure in corrosive environment.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.16 no.4 s.82
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• pp.549-555
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• 2004

Cement of three alkalinities (equivalent alkalinities of 0.36,0.52 and 0.97) was employed in fabricating a set of classical G109 type specimens. To-date, these have been subjected to a one week wet-one week dry cyclic pending using 15 w/o NaCl solution. At the end of the dry period, potential and macro-cell current were measured to indicate whether the top reinforcing steel was in the passive or active state. Once this bar became active, the specimen was autopsied and the extent of corrosion was documented. Subsequent to visual inspection, concrete powder samples were collected from the upper region of the top rebar trace; and at a certain times concrete cores were taken from non-reinforced specimens. Using these, determinations were made of (1) critical chloride concentration for corrosion initiation ($Cl_{th}^-$), (2) effective chloride diffusion coefficient ($D_e$), and (3) pore water alkalinity ($[OH^-]$). The pore water alkalinity was strongly related to the alkali content of cement that was used in the mix. The chloride concentration, ($Cl^-$), was greater at active than at passive sites, presumably as a consequence of electro migration and accumulation of these species at active site subsequent to corrosion initiation. Accordingly, ($Cl^-$) at passive sites was considered indicative of the threshold concentration fur corrosion initiation. The $Cl_{th}^-$ was increased with increasing Time-to-corrosion ($T_i$). Consequently, the HA(High Alkalinity) specimens exhibited the highest $Cl_{th}^-$ and the NA(Normal Alkalinity) was the least. This range exceeds what has previously been reported in North America. In addition, the effective diffusion coefficient, $D_e$, was about 40 percent lower for concrete prepared with the HA cement compared to the NA and LA(Low Alkalinity) ones.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.727-732
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• 2022

Applying the calculated cross-sectional reduction due to the corroded rebar investigated in the field to the numerical analysis model, the damage pattern and delamination of concrete in the field showed a tendency relatively similar to the numerical analysis results. It was analyzed that when the expansion pressure due to corrosion of the reinforcing bar is greater than the tensile stress of the concrete, cracks are generated and the concrete cover can be fracture. As a result of this study, the correlation between the corrosion rate of reinforcing bars and the crack occurrence of the concrete cover of the subway box structure was verified based on the numerical analysis and field test results. To prevent rebar corrosion, the corrosion rate can be reduced by applying rust prevention to the reinforcing bar and changing the material. In the case of exposed to a corrosive environment, the tensile strength of the concrete is improved by adjusting the concrete compressive strength to secure durability against the expansion pressure caused by the corroded rebar.

• Journal of Construction Engineering and Project Management
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.26-29
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• 2017

This paper represents the experimental investigation of chloride penetration into plain concretes and reinforced concretes. The main objective of this work is to study the main influencing parameters affecting corrosion of steel in concrete. Plain cement concrete and reinforced cement concrete with different water-cement ratios and different cover depth were subjected to ponding test. Ponding of specimens were done for different periods into 10% NaCl solution. Depth of penetration of chloride solution into specimens was measured after ponding. Specimens were crushed and reinforcements were washed using $HNO_3$ solution and weight loss due to corrosion was calculated accordingly. There was a linear relationship between depth of penetration and water-cement ratio. It was also observed that, corrosion of reinforcing steel increases with chloride ponding period and with water-cement ratio. Corrosion of steel in concrete can be minimized by providing good quality concrete and sufficient concrete cover over the reinforcing bars. Water-cement ratio has to be low enough to slow down the penetration of chloride salts into concrete.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.79-85
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• 2016

A concrete silo plays an important role in subsurface low- and intermediate-level waste facilities (LILW) by limiting the release of radionuclides from the silo geosphere. However, due to several physical and chemical processes the performance of the concrete structure decreases over time and consequently the concrete loses its effectiveness as a barrier against groundwater inflow and the release of radionuclides. Although a number of processes are responsible for degradation of the silo concrete, it is determined that the main cause is corrosion of the reinforcing steel. Therefore, the time it takes for the silo concrete to fail is calculated based on two factors: the initiation time of corrosion, defined as the time it takes for chloride ions to penetrate through the concrete cover, and the propagation time of corrosion. This paper aims to estimate the time taken for concrete to fail in a LILW disposal facility. Based on the United States Department of Energy (DOE) approach, which indicates that concrete fails completely once 50% of the volume of the reinforcing steel corrodes, the corrosion propagation time is calculated to be 640 years, which is the time it takes for corrosion to penetrate 0.640 cm into the reinforcing steel. In addition to the corrosion propagation time, a diffusion equation is used to calculate the initiation time of corrosion, yielding a time of 1284 years, which post-dates the closure time of the LILW disposal facility if we also consider the 640 years of corrosion propagation. The electrochemical conditions of the passive rebar surface were modified using an acceleration method. This is a useful approach because it can reduce the test time significantly by accelerating the transport of chlorides. Using instrumental analysis, the physicochemical properties of corrosion products were determined, thereby confirming that corrosion occurred, although we did not observe significant cracks in, or expansion of, the concrete. These results are consistent with those of Smartet al., 2006 who reported that corrosion products are easily compressed, meaning that cracks cannot be discerned by eye. Therefore, it is worth noting that rebar corrosion does not strongly influence the hydraulic conductivity of the concrete.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.371-374
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• 2003

The corrosion of steel reinforcing bar(re-bar) has been the major cause of the reinforced concrete deterioration. FRP(Fiber-reinforced polymer) reinforcing bar has emerged as one of the most promising and affordable solutions to the corrosion problems of steel reinforcement in structural concrete. In this study, long-term durability performance of FRP re-bar were evaluated. The mechanical and durability properties of two type of CFRP- and GFRP re-bar were investigated; the FRP re-bars were subjected to alkaline solution, acid solution, salt solution and deionized water. The mechanical and durability properties were investigated by performing tensile and short beam tests. Experimental results confirmed the desirable resistance of FRP re-bar to aggressive chemical environment.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2006.05b
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• pp.225-228
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• 2006

To clarify the one body behavior of reinforcing bar and concrete, it is important to investigate bond characteristics between two materials. Bond strength is decided by applied force and interface area between reinforcing bar and concrete. And, the resultant force of chemical adhesive force, frictional force, and mechanical interaction are to be main factors. Property of concrete influences on chemical adhesive force and frictional force; bond strength is decreased by corrosion of reinforcing bar, as the result, durability is also decreased. In this study, to confirm bond characteristics with property of concrete, w/c ratio and blending of mineral admixture were selected as the main test parameters. The results obtained from this study will be used as the basic data for bond characteristics with corrosion.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2001.05a
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• pp.1017-1022
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• 2001

The bend resistance of coated reinforcing bar is greatly influenced by adhesion strength of bar and coating materials and transformation of coating materials to the bar. Expecially, tearing state or a limited microscopic cracks are predicted on the inside and outside of bending angle because of adhesion strength and elongation is very different with types of polymer materials using bar coating, and these parts are accelerated corrosion as penetration of bar corrosion effects factor. In this study, cement modified polymer are prepared four types and differ from polymer cement ratio of 50% and 100%, coating thickness of 250$\mu$m and 450$\mu$m, coating number, curing age of 3, 7, 14 and 280days, and then tested bend resistance as bending angle $90^{\circ}$, $135^{\circ}$ and $180^{\circ}$ for observe the microscopic demage effect according as bar bend. From the test results, when is used cement modified polymer as coating materials of bar, St/BA is showed excellent bend resistance than a polyacrylic emulsion and SBR because of softness. But it is to need attention because as coating parts are pressed down and tearing, also experimental study is proceeded to corrosion potential on the inside and outside of coated reinforcing bar.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 1997.10a
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• pp.281-286
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• 1997

Recent construction activities and maintenance of marine facilities have been accelerating to keep up with rapid economic growth in Korea. Marine concrete structures are exposed to salts an chloride from ocean environments. The corrosion of reinforcement steel caused by chloride-penetration into concrete may severely effect the durability of concrete structures. The objective of this research is to develop a durable concrete by investigating the corrosion resistance of various corrosion protection systems utilizing different water/cement ratio, silica fumes, corrosion inhibitors and etc. A tow-year verification test on various corrosion protection systems has been doing in the laboratory and at the seaside. Corrosion investigations on reinforcement steel are now under progress for more than 180 concrete specimen. Corrosion-related measurements include macrocell corrosion current, instant-off voltage between corroding and noncorroding reinforcement, chloride contents, the corroded surface areas on the reinforcement steel, and etc. A low level of corrosion is investigated on reinforcement steels in concrete specimen made with corrosion inhibitors or applied aqueous impregnating corrosion inhibitors into their surface, even though high chloride contents of concrete specimen.