Effect of the transversal stirrups on the distribution of the natural non-uniform chloride-induced corrosion along the longitudinal steel reinforcement

Abstract

This paper investigates the spatial distribution of the natural non-uniform chloride-induced corrosion in the longitudinal steel reinforcement at the intersection with the stirrups. The X-ray computed tomography (CT) was employed to perform non-destructive test on specimens and gain insights into the corrosion. The extracted data were applied to analyze the influence of stirrups on the corrosion distribution along the longitudinal reinforcement. The results indicate that the presence of stirrups leads to an overall reduction in the corrosion level of the adjacent longitudinal reinforcement. Moreover, the corrosion of longitudinal reinforcement appears to be concentrated at the side far away from the stirrup leading to more in-depth penetration of corrosion. The research could be helpful for the durability design of the reinforced concrete constructions in an aggressive environment.