Calculation of corrosion rate for reinforced concrete beams based on corrosive crack width

This paper deals with a correction method for corrosive crack width caused by non-uniform corrosion. Considering the corrosion cracking characteristics of a reinforced concrete structure, a correction model of corrosive crack width involving the mutual impacts between adjacent measuring points is established. The calculation model for steel bar corrosion rate for single point is obtained through quantitative analysis and accelerated corrosion tests on more than 70 reinforced cubic members. Two methods are suggested by combining two models, the correction and the corrosion calculation ones. Electrolyte accelerated corrosion tests on seven beams are carried out to verify these methods. The experimental results show that the ratio between the maximum corrosion rate by the indirect method and the measured average value ranges from 1.4 to 2.4, and the indirect method is shown to be an effective method for calculating the maximum corrosion rate.