Modeling the effect of rebar corrosion on RC structures using 3D-RBSM

Abstract

    Rebar corrosion is a popular phenomenon in RC structures subjecting to chloride ingress and carbonation. Such a phenomenon results in concrete cover spalling, loss of rebar diameter and bond reduction, consequently triggers a damage on load capacity and service life of RC structures and lastly poses risks to human safety. Powerful numerical tools that can simulate and predict the effects of this phenomenon in structural level thus become vitally important. The authors proposed and developed a model using 3D-RBSM in which rebar is modeled by beam element in order for modeling structural level. In this paper, effects of various factors such as effect of arrangement of multiple rebars, effect of rebar corrosion on bonding behaviour will be intensively investigated using the said model. The results showed that the model can be able to precisely simulate the effects of these factors on RC structures subjecting to rebar corrosion. The model, thus, will be a promising tool in use of evaluating structural behaviour and predicting load capacity of RC structures subjecting to rebar corrosion.