The Assessment of Corrosion-Damaged Reinforced Concrete Structures: A Case Study from Erzincan, Türkiye

Reinforced concrete (RC) structures constructed in accordance with earthquake regulations and design principles are subjected to numerous effects, including wind, dead, live, snow, rain, seismic loads, and environmental effects on their service life. One of the most common problems caused by environmental effects is corrosion that occurs in the reinforced concrete reinforcement bar. Concrete can protect the reinforcement bar with sufficient strength and durability properties and undamaged cross-section integrity from corrosion under normal conditions. However, poor concrete quality, high permeability, insufficient concrete cover thickness, and workmanship defects can lead to corrosion of the reinforcement bars. Corrosion in the reinforcement bars can weaken the mechanical properties of the material and shorten the service life of the structure. In this study, the deterioration of concrete and reinforcement in a reinforced concrete structure built in 1982 in Erzincan was investigated using both destructive and non-destructive methods. The aim of examining these materials together was to evaluate the parameters affecting corrosion mechanisms at the material level as well. The results were interpreted by evaluating the climatic data (precipitation, humidity, wind, and temperature) and air quality at the structure's location. Qualitative and quantitative analyses revealed that the increasing corrosion rate causes deterioration in the mechanical properties of the reinforcement bars and that this deterioration is closely related to the type of corrosion. Additionally, it was concluded that the temperature differences and air pollution in Erzincan caused structural deterioration in reinforced concrete elements and accelerated corrosion of the reinforcement bars.