Size Effect on Inelastic Buckling Behavior of Accelerated Pitted Corroded Bars in Porous Media

Abstract

A total of 110 inelastic buckling tests on corroded and uncorroded reinforcing bars with various bar diameters are conducted. Through regression analyses of experimental data, the combined effect of nonuniform pitting corrosion and bar diameter (size effect) on buckling and postyield buckling response of corroded and uncorroded bars are investigated. The experimental result shows that bar diameter has a minor influence on postyield buckling response of uncorroded bars. However, it is found that bar diameter has a more significant impact on buckling capacity of corroded bars. Finally, the experimental data of tested corroded bars in this research are used to calibrate and update a new uniaxial material model of corroded bars to account for size effect. The proposed updated model simulates the inelastic buckling and postbuckling behavior of corroded bars accounting for size effect. This model is implemented in an open source finite element code and is readily available to the community for nonlinear analysis of corroded reinforced concrete structures.