Abstract
Rebar corrosion is the most commonly observed deterioration cause in reinforced (RC) bridges, due to the extensive use of salts in de-icing operations during winter. Corrosion is known to have adverse effects on the mechanical properties of the affected rebars (i.e. impaired strength and ductility). A significant loss in the mechanical properties of corroding rebars of structural elements, such as under-reinforced beams is likely to affect their ductility. However, the observed scatter in the available experimental data of corroding under-reinforced beams do not allow for consistent conclusions to be made. In this paper, the ductility of corroding under-reinforced beams - in flexure - is examined using non-linear finite element analysis (NLFEA). Numerical models of corroding RC beams are developed and validated, using empirical models from the literature, to consider the effect of corrosion on the residual properties of the corroding rebars and their bond with concrete. The results are discussed in relation to key experimental and numerical studies. Thereafter, a detailed parametric study is presented, which quantifies the evolution of ductility in the corroding beams and assist in explaining the scatter found in the experimental data. © 2012 Taylor & Francis Group.