Ultimate Load Behaviour of Reinforced Concrete Beam with Corroded Reinforcement

Corrosion of reinforcement reduces the load carrying capacity, energy dissipation and ductility of Reinforced Concrete (RC) members. In the present study, reinforcements of RC beam are subjected to 10, 25, and 30% corrosion and the respective RC beams are tested to evaluate their ultimate load behaviour. A huge drop in energy dissipation capacity of the RC beam is observed beyond the corrosion level of 10%. Further, nonlinear finite element analysis is employed to assess the load–displacement behaviour and ultimate load of RC beam. The corrosion induced damage to the reinforcement is represented in the finite element model by modifying its mechanical properties based on the results reported in the literature. The resultant load versus displacement curves of reinforced concrete beams are obtained. Good correlation is observed between the finite element analysis results and that obtained from experimental investigation on the control beam. The experimental results are also compared with the finite element analysis results for RC beams with corroded reinforcement. In order to understand the effect of corrosion on the mechanical properties of reinforcement, the corroded reinforcements are modelled in nonlinear finite element analysis by (i) reducing the area of reinforcement alone (ii) by reducing both area and mechanical properties and (iii) reducing the mechanical properties without reducing the area of steel as reported in literature. The results obtained for the beam with corroded reinforcement confirms reduction in yield stress and ultimate stress of the reinforcement steel.