Elongation performance of corroded reinforcing bars under accelerated corrosion conditions

The mechanical changes caused by reinforcing bar corrosion significantly affect the durability and structural safety of deteriorated reinforced concrete structures. In this study, the authors investigated the reduction in elongation, which is known to impair the deformation capacity and seismic performance of reinforcing bars. A total of 210 specimens were prepared with different diameters, and the target corrosion levels were pre-determined for the analysis. According to Faraday’s law, the amount of corrosion of reinforcing bar specimens can be estimated based on the charge passed through the proposed circuit over a specific period. Based on the results of the monotonic tensile test of accelerated corroded reinforcing bar specimens, an appropriate reduction formula y = e−0.065x was derived for the decrease in elongation, which is a key mechanical property. This provides useful results for modelling both local and global behaviour of corroded reinforcing bars using numerical and analytical tools.