Effect of corrosion on bond between reinforcement and concrete-an experimental study

Abstract The presence of cracks in concrete structures can lead to corrosion as it exposes the steel reinforcement to environmental factors. When moisture and oxygen reach the steel, corrosion weakens the bond between the steel and the surrounding concrete. This weakening can reduce the load-carrying capacity and, in severe cases, lead to failure. Understanding the relationship between corrosion and bond strength is vital for reinforced concrete structures. This paper investigates the impact of corrosion on bond strength in reinforced concrete structures by examining the bond performance of concrete with both corroded and uncorroded reinforcement bars. The study considers concrete grades M20, M25, and M30, as well as corrosion levels varying from 0 to 20% in intervals of 5%. To conduct the study, cylindrical samples with different levels of corrosion were created using the corrosion acceleration process with the impressed current technique. Pull-out tests were then carried out to determine the bond-slip relationship and the degradation of bond strength due to corrosion. The test results show that lower-grade concrete (M20) experiences a significant decrease in bond strength compared to higher grades (M25 and M30), with M20 showing a 30.7% reduction and M25 showing a 25.8% reduction in bond strength relative to M30 in controlled specimens. The bond stress-slip relationship reveals a non-linear response, with reduced bond stress and slips for all grades of concrete as corrosion levels increase. Additionally, the reduction in bar diameter due to corrosion ranged from 11.3 to 11.6 mm at 5% corrosion and from 9.4 to 9.7 mm at 20% corrosion, significantly impacting the load-carrying capacity of the reinforced concrete structures. These findings underscore the importance of considering concrete grade and corrosion levels when assessing and maintaining bond performance in reinforced concrete structures.