Degradation of flexural strength in reinforced concrete members caused by steel corrosion

The volume expansion of reinforcements due to corrosion produces tensile stresses on the surrounding concrete, leading to radial cracks in the concrete cover and to significant reduction in the serviceability performance and durability of reinforced concrete members. In this study, a flexural strength assessment model of reinforced concrete (RC) members with corroded bars has been developed, which is an extension of the steel–concrete bond strength models based on the thick-walled cylinder theory. This model simulates the degradation of flexural strength in RC members according to the corrosion rate and flexural cracks, and is in good agreement with available experimental data.