Assessing the Performance of Corroding RC Bridge Decks: A Critical Review of Corrosion Propagation Models

Corrosion of steel reinforcement is one of the most prevalent causes of reinforced concrete (RC) structures deterioration in chloride-contaminated environments. As a result, evaluating the impact of any possible corrosion-induced damages to reinforced concrete bridges strongly affects management decisions: such as inspection, maintenance and repair actions. The corrosion propagation phase is a significant factor in the service life of reinforced concrete structures and thus, it is requires appropriate attention. Various models have been developed to simulate and/or predict the propagation phase. This paper proposes that a method in which a reliability framework is developed to assess the durability of reinforced concrete structures under corrosion inmarine environments functions better. The main concern of this study is chloride-induced corrosions.In due regard, serviceability and ultimate limit states of the structure are also taken into account. Subsequently, the proposed method is employed to review the existing models for prediction of corrosion propagation.