Effect of Stirrup on Reinforcement Corrosion-Induced Cover Cracking

Cracking of the cover concrete due to steel corrosion is considered as one of the major issues of durability of reinforced concrete (RC) structures. Numerous models have been developed to predict the time from corrosion initiation to cracking of the cover concrete. However, little work has been done on the effects of stirrup on reinforcement corrosion-induced cover cracking. In this paper, the effects of stirrup on reinforcement corrosion-induced cover cracking are investigated. The results of four short columns (section size 100×100 mm, total length 515 mm) subjected to accelerated corrosion clearly show that stirrups not only can effectively postpone and prevent the longitudinal crack initiation but also can restrict the width of cracks caused by corrosion of reinforcement. Therefore, prediction models should account for the effects of stirrup on reinforcement corrosion-induced cover cracking, and even the effects of load on it.