Corrosion of Steel Rebar in Concrete: A Review

Rebar is embedded in concrete to create reinforced concrete (RC). Rebar carries most of the tensile stress and gives compressively loaded concrete fracture resistance. However, embedded steel corrosion is a significant cause of concern for RC composite structures worldwide. It is one of the biggest threats to concrete structures' longevity. Due to environmental factors, concrete decays and reinforced concrete buildings fail. The type and surface arrangement of the rebar, the cement used in the mortar, the dosing frequency of the concrete, its penetrability, gaps and cracks, humidity, and, most importantly, pollutants and aggressive species all affect rebar corrosion. Either carbonation or chlorides typically cause steel corrosion in concrete. Carbonation occurs when carbon dioxide in the atmosphere combines with calcium within the concrete. This indicates that the pH of the medium is falling, and the steel rebar is corroding. When chlorides pass through concrete to steel, corrosion rates skyrocket. Consideration must be given to concrete moisture. Owing to its excellent resistance, dry concrete has a low steel corrosion rate, whereas extremely wet concrete has a low rate owing to delayed O-2 transfer to steel surfaces. This paper examines rebar corrosion causes and mechanisms and describes corrosion evaluation and mitigation methods.