ABSTRACT

Square-rebars have been used in many historical reinforced concrete buildings worldwide. The durability and structural behavior of such historical buildings should be evaluated regularly and accurately. The prediction of the corrosion-induced cracking time is a critical element for the durability evaluation work. This study demonstrates a mathematical model for the corrosion-induced cover cracking for square-rebars and its time prediction method. The research methodology includes theoretical derivation and experimental validation. First, a simplified model that describes the corrosion-induced cover cracking for square-rebars is proposed, and then, Faraday’s law is combined with the model to develop a time prediction model for corrosion-induced cover cracking. Finally, an accelerated corrosion experiment for square-rebars is performed to validate the applicability and accuracy of the prediction model.