Experimental study of the mechanical properties of reinforced concrete compression members under the combined action of sustained load and corrosion

• Published in: Construction & building materials Vol. 202; pp. 11 - 22
• Main Authors: Wu, Xun, Chen, Lei, Li, Hui, Xu, Jun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 30.03.2019; Reed Business Information, Inc. (US)
• Subjects: Accelerated corrosion test; Analysis; Chemical properties; Compression member; Corrosion (Chemistry); Epoxy resins; Mechanical properties; Reinforced concrete; Steel corrosion; Study and teaching; Sustained load; China; Mechanical properties; Compression member; Sustained load; Accelerated corrosion test
• ISSN: 0950-0618; 1879-0526
• DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2018.12.156

•Sustained load makes corrosion degree lower for member with ordinary stirrups.•Sustained load makes corrosion degree higher for member with epoxy-coated stirrups.•Sustained load has different influence on stiffness according to the type of stirrup. Steel corrosion is an important factor in the durability of reinforced concrete members. There are numerous studies of reinforced concrete compression members in corrosive environments, but most studies involve corrosion under no load. To investigate the comprehensive effects of sustained load and corrosion on the mechanical properties of reinforced concrete members, this study simultaneously subjects 20 axial compression members to both sustained load and corrosion. The stirrups of 10 members are ordinary steel bars (A-type members), and the stirrups of the other 10 members are epoxy-coated steel bars (B-type members). The results show that the ultimate bearing capacity of corroded members can be significantly improved by using epoxy-coated stirrups, especially when the corrosion degree is high. A sustained load can reduce the actual corrosion degree of A-type members and increase the actual corrosion degree of B-type members. Under the same corrosion degree, the ultimate bearing capacity of the columns with stirrups made of ordinary steel bars increases as the sustained load increases, whereas for the columns with stirrups made of epoxy-coated steel bars, the ultimate bearing capacity decreases slightly as the sustained load increases.