Recognition of the cracking pattern of reinforced concrete due to 3D non-uniform corrosion under vertically varying marine exposure conditions

Abstract

Cover cracking of concrete structures due to reinforcing corrosion is a crucial indicator of deterioration in their mechanical properties and plays a key role in corrosion diagnosis. Despite extensive research on two-dimensional (2D) non-uniform corrosion on cross-sections, there remains a significant gap in simulation models that capture its longitudinal variations on steel reinforcement. This limitation significantly hinders the accurate identification of crack patterns and the subsequent determination of corrosion conditions, especially under vertical variations in marine exposure conditions. This paper thereby presents a newly developed three-dimensional (3D) multi-peak Gaussian model capable of representing temporal non-uniform corrosion distributions both across cross-sections and along the longitudinal direction of steel reinforcement. By utilizing the cohesive zone model-based extended finite element method (XFEM), this study has elucidated crack patterns associated with corrosion configurations, from highly localized to more uniform distributions. The investigation of crack paths and characteristics, including initiation angle, width, and tortuosity, was validated through accelerated corrosion tests and experimental findings from the literature. These observations highlight the correlation between corrosion distribution and crack morphology, providing a foundational basis for enhanced corrosion diagnosis through concrete cracking analysis.