EFFECT OF CORROSION LONGITUDINAL STEEL BARS ON THE FLEXURAL STRENGTH OF RC BEAMS

Abstract

The main objective of this research is to investigate the effect of corroded steel bars on the ultimate flexural capacity of reinforcement concrete beams. The experimental work consists of four RC beams with dimensions (150×200×1200) mm tested under two-point concentrated loading. The major parameter of the current research is corrosion period (5,10,20) days. The amount of longitudinal and transverse reinforcement, concrete strength and, the other parameters were kept constant for all samples. The comparisons between specimens are based on the visual cracking loads, ultimate loads, deflection, cracks pattern and mode of failure. Results showed that visual first cracking load, and ultimate loads of corroded RC beams were decreased with increase corrosion durations relative to the control beam as a result of the corrosion process. The mode of failure was flexural failure for all specimens. Corrosion caused decreasing percentage in weight of steel bars and cross-sectional area of longitudinal steel bars. This percent increased as exposure time to corrosion process increased by 8.5% and 28.39% for 20 days respectively.

Keywords

• corrosion
• ultimate flexural capacity