Finite Element Analysis of Corroded Reinforcement Bars in

RC Structure

1 Introduction

Reinforced Concrete Structures are widely used in civil engineering due to its high load bearing capacity

and durability. However, RC Structures are much likely to get corroded over due to multiple reasons. This

one is due to harsh environment, cracks in a concrete, loss of RC bar diameter, and loss of bond between

RC bar and concrete which reduced the structure strength and its integrity. Corrosion can weaken the

structure, leading to reduced the load bearing capacity of RC Structure and causes potential failure. The

loss of load bearing capacity is due to reduction in the mechanical properties of RC bars like Yield Strength,

ultimate strength, tensile strength and ductility, leading to permanent failure. The concrete bond with

Reinforcement bar is affected due to cracks in concrete which corrode the bars due to moisture pass

through it. According to different research, the RC structures which are exposed to aggressive

environments having elevated temperatures are much likely to get corroded quickly. That’s means

humidity and elevated temperatures accelerates the corrosion rate.

1.1 Background

Reinforcement bar is mesh of steel bars used in civil concrete structure in order to strengthen the

structures. As we know that steel bars have high ductility and tensile strength and absorb the shear stress.

But with the reinforced concrete, it helps to absorb the compressive stresses as well. That’s why we see

many bridge structures uses the same reinforced bar structure. Reinforced bar due to cohesive bonding

between steel bar and concrete makes it good in both tensile and compressive stress. RC structures are
mainly good when high strength structure is needed but due to multiple reasons, the bars get corroded

and lose its structural integrity leading to disaster. Cracks formations lead to induction of wetting of

concrete, the water having chloride as a contaminant causes concrete deterioration. Corrosion not only

affects concrete strength but also affects the steel bar. Corrosion causes deterioration of bond between

concrete and bar, reduction of steel bar cross sectional area, and degeneration of elastic modulus of steel

bars. In the following property we have study the effects of corrosion on the mechanical properties of RC

structure using Finite element modelling. Finite Element Analysis is being performed on ABAQUS software.

Using Abaqus Software on simulating corroded bars, the test beam was statically loaded and compare with

the established data in order to evaluate the values of yield strength, tensile strength and ultimate tensile

strength.

1.2 Objectives

The primary objective of the following study is to compare the structural behavior of corroded and

uncorroded RC structures. RC structures can be of beams and columns. The result of structural behavior

like mechanical and chemical properties is checked at different corrosion rates by using numerical

simulation. Numerical result help to understand the direct effect on the mechanical properties of the both

kind of structures.

In order to fulfill the objective, this report conducts numerical simulation analysis on the mechanical

properties of RC beams at different rates of corrosion penetration. In the following study, ABAQUS

software is used to establish the model of RC beam and the effect of steel beam corrosion is simulated by

varying the yield strength and cross sectional area of rebar. Through this simulation, it highlights the main

mechanical properties of steel bar. The properties are:

1. Compressive deterioration of beam.

2. Degeneration of beam strength.

 3. Deterioration of bonding strength between steel bar and concrete.

The simulation model is used for simulating the right and relevant material properties. For that purpose,

two models are used. CDP model is used for simulating concrete structure and find the material properties

of corroded concrete. Element embedded model is used for simulating steel bars. Furthermore, while

understanding the structural strength of both the corroded and uncorroded reinforced structure, a

parametric analysis is performed in order to determine the feasibility of alternative non-corrosive

reinforcement materials like Galvanized iron, Epoxy coated rebars, fiberglass rebars etc. In the parametric

analysis, the conventional parameters obtain from the results of uncorroded steel bar like yield strength,

tensile strength, UTS is compared with the above non-corrosive material. A brief feasibility report is also

made considering the price point of all three material. In the following study, a brief research is also

conducted that when and where fiberglass structures are used. And why this kind of structures is not well

adopted by today’s world.

 2 Literature Review
2.1 Review of Theory
Concrete structures are used mainly in civil engineering but when a structure of high structural integrity
and to bear high load, the mesh of steel structure(rebars) is used. The mesh of steel structure is based
on the mechanical design and numerical analysis. J.M. van der Bergh et al (2020) explains about how
much reinforced structure is corroded in marine environment. As marine environment is the primary
cause of structural degradation. And the direct and indirect cost of corrosion in the USA was $4 Billion in
2001. According to the report, 3% of GDP on yearly basis is spent on the cost related to reinforced
structure corrosion.

As multiple paper shows how much corrosion leads to capital investment for a country. So, to avoid
corrosion of the RC Structure, a analysis on the structure strength must be analyzed so that while
designing and selection of the material, smartly work can be done. Firstly, an analyze the behavior of
reinforced concrete structure. Hamid Sinaei, Mahdi Shariati (2012) performed an analysis on finite
element model which is used to analyze the non-linear behavior of reinforced concrete structure. By
comparing the modeling result with the experimental result, the paper conclude that the uniaxial stress
selected experimentally is integrated with the same value in FEM model. The value of micro strain it get
from both the experimental data and FEM model results are nearly same.

2.2 Review of Previous Work

2.2.1 Studies related to Reinforced Concrete Steel Bar
Steel bars in general have superior mechanical properties. Steel rebars has high ductility ratio, welding
ability, bending ability, high tensile strength and yield strength. Steel bars generally have low
compressive strength but concrete structure have high compressive strength. So, reinforced concrete bar
serve best purpose when they bonded with each other. The bond between bar and concrete makes the
structure more rigid. Talking about corrosion causes, steel in concrete is usually protected against
corrosion due to passivation of high alkalinity of the pore solutions within the concrete. A stable oxide
layer is formed on the steel structure which prevents the anodic dissolution of the iron. If oxide layer is
not formed enough and can’t be resistive to anodic dissolution of the iron, the loss of durability in the
steel structure occurs. Due to instability in oxide layer, the chlorides are formed and carbonation started
which is the main cause of corroded steel. According to the paper, the concrete and steel deterioration
are either due to inadequate design or wrong practice. [1] Zhao, Y., Yu, J., & Jin, W. (2011).
2.2.2 Studies related to Finite Element Analysis
Bossio et al. (2015) performed a FEM analysis using a specimen of reinforced bar to simulate general or
pitting corrosion. In his study, he also calculates and evaluate stresses in the concrete surrounding the
rebars, a mechanical analytical model was proposed. Furthermore, the formation of cracks in concrete
structure and development of stresses in the inside the concrete due to corroded rebar is also discussed
with the help of sophisticated model. The results provided the relationships between the decrease of
steel area and cracking development. In the last conclusion, a satisfactory agreement was found
between numerical findings and result is available in the literature.

2.2.3 Studies related to deterioration of bond strength

Jnaid and Aboutaha (2014) studied the loss of bonding availability in corroded rebars by studying the
flexural ultimate capacity of beams. The method known as neutral axis depth is used to calculated the
result of ultimate stress of corroded beams. ANSYS software is used, Finite Element model is created and
compare with different experimental data that includes many variables such as a/d ratio, length of
unbounded region and type of loading. Analytical model for calculating the remaining flexural capacity
was presented by using the experimental data and the FEA model. The results showed that
major effects on the residual flexural capacity of un-bonded reinforcement beams are the
reinforcement ratio and the un-bonded length, while other variables have limited impact.
7 References

1- Zhao, Y., Yu, J., & Jin, W. (2011). Damage analysis and cracking model of reinforced concrete
structures with rebar corrosion. Corrosion Science, 53(10), 3388-3397.
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reinforcement using CDP model. In IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and
Engineering (Vol. 471, No. 2, p. 022025). IOP Publishing.
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interaction. Construction and Building Materials, 151, 220-227.
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6- J.M. van der Bergh et al., Preliminary Approach to Bio-Based Surface Healing of Structural
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