article · Case Studies in Construction Materials
Corrosion in steel stirrups contributes significantly to the deterioration of shear capacity in reinforced concrete structures, which can cause early structural failure during service. This study assesses how different degrees of stirrup corrosion affect the shear performance of reinforced concrete beams through three-point bending laboratory tests and numerical simulations. Finite element models using individual component constitutive models successfully reproduced the shear behaviour and failure patterns seen in the physical tests. Results indicate that a low stirrup corrosion level of 5% has minimal impact on shear capacity, showing changes between minus 4% and 0.9%. Conversely, a higher corrosion level of 12% triggers a far greater reduction in shear strength, an effect that is especially noticeable in beams with high shear span-to-depth ratios.
Reinforced concrete forms the foundation of vital civil infrastructure, but hidden corrosion of internal steel components can cause abrupt structural failures. Understanding precisely when and how corrosion degrades shear strength helps structural assessors accurately determine remaining safety margins, potentially preventing catastrophic failures while avoiding premature, costly replacements.
This research provides a validated finite element modelling approach that structural engineers can use to forecast the long-term shear capacity of corroded concrete elements. It is an applied numerical tool, validated against physical tests, that could be integrated into infrastructure inspection and asset management workflows. Further industry adoption would require translation from academic finite element packages into commercial structural assessment software.
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The corrosion of steel stirrups is recognized as a significant contributing factor to shear deterioration in reinforced concrete (RC) structures, leading to detrimental effects on structural performance and potential early failures during service. To investigate the effect of corrosion levels on the shear behavior of RC beams, a series of three-point bending tests were conducted in this study. Furthermore, finite element analyses were employed to duplicate the shear behavior and failure modes observed in the experiments. The numerical outcomes are aligned with experimental results, confirming the validity of the developed constitutive models. The findings reveal that a low corrosion level (5%) in steel stirrups exhibits a limited impact on the overall structural shear capacity (-4%-0.9%). However, a higher corrosion level (12%) in stirrups induces a more pronounced reduction in structural shear capacity. This reduction is particularly prominent in scenarios involving a high shear span-to-depth (av/d) ratio. The developed finite element model, incorporating comprehensive constitutive models for individual components, offers engineers a prospective approach for forecasting the long-term shear performance of corroded RC beams.
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DOI: 10.1016/j.cscm.2024.e03266
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