Analysis on the cracking of concrete cover due to rebar corrosion

The process of rebar corrosion from the beginning of rusting to the occurrence of concrete cover cracking due to corrosion expansion may be divided into three periods: period of free expansion of the corrosion product, period of stress initiation of concrete cover and period of cracking of concrete cover. The total depth of corrosion is the sum of the corrosion depths formed in these periods. A model for calculating the corrosion depth at the moment of cracking due to corrosion expansion is established. The factors influencing the corrosion depth including the porous volume of concrete, thickness of concrete cover, diameter of rebar and the corrosion expansion rate are analyzed. The calculation result of this proposed model is in good agreement with experimental data.