Mechanical Properties of Corroded Reinforcement

Reinforced concrete (RC) structures are basically composite elements because they consist of two materials—concrete and reinforcement (reinforcing steel bars). From the point of view of the design of new constructions, it is necessary to design them in such a way as to ensure their reliability, safety and durability throughout their design lifetime, Td. However, all elements, including RC members, are affected by the environment in which they are located. An aggressive environment causes degradation of materials. In the case of reinforcement, corrosion of the reinforcement is considered to be the most well-known and at the same time the most serious way of degradation. From the point of view of existing reinforced concrete elements, it is therefore important to know whether and how the corrosion of the reinforcement affects the mechanical properties of the given reinforcement. The mechanical properties of reinforcement are very important when assessing the actual condition of reinforced concrete (RC) elements, to determine the resistance and load-carrying capacity of the elements. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the effect of corrosion on mechanical properties of reinforcement. The paper reports on the results of an experimental analysis of the effect of corrosion on the change in the mechanical properties of reinforcement. Furthermore, it presents both the redistribution of mechanical properties along the cross-section of reinforcement, produced by various techniques, such as hot-rolling, hot-rolling with controlled cooling from rerolling temperature and cold-rolled as well as the mechanical properties under the action of corrosion.