Damage model for the analysis of structural response of RC columns subjected to corrosion phenomena

The problem of durability of reinforced concrete (RC) structures represents an evolving research topic in the assessment of existing structures. The corrosion of reinforcing bars is one of the most critical consequences of aging of RC members subjected to chloride and carbonation attack, because it can lead to an early and intense deterioration of such structures, reducing drastically their service life. Therefore, it is necessary to develop operative and reliable tools able to analyze the structural response of RC elements, both in sound and degraded conditions. In this paper, a numerical model based on damage mechanics, is presented and applied to simulate the behaviour of a number of experimentally tested RC columns, subjected to different level of corrosion. Both the residual load carrying capacity and the behavior of reinforced concrete elements observed in the experimental tests are well represented by the numerical model