Performance of Corroded Reinforced Concrete Columns under the Action of Eccentric Loads

Abstract

This paper presents an experimental investigation on the performance of RC columns with corroded reinforcing steel bars. The corrosion of steel bars was induced by using a combined electrochemical process and wet-dry cycles. The corroded-RC columns were tested under eccentric-compressive loading, from which the residual strength of the columns was obtained. Relationships between the average cross-sectional area loss of the steel bar, the average and maximum crack widths of concrete cover, and the strength loss of the RC column were examined. Finally, a load-carrying capacity model is proposed to quantitatively estimate the residual compressive strength of the corroded-RC column.