Finite element modelling of steel/concrete bond for corroded reinforcement

This study investigates corrosion-induced deterioration of bond between steel and concrete through finite element analysis (FEA) of the flexural behaviour of corroded reinforced concrete components. The impaired bond capacity is first studied analytically by treating the concrete cover as a thick-wall cylinder subjected to internal pressure. The bond mechanism is later formulated and implemented through link elements in the commercial software ABAQUS. Corrosion-induced damage is introduced in the FEA by reducing the reinforcement cross-sectional area, simulating the splitting of the concrete cover and decreasing the bond capacity with increasing levels of corrosion. The results of the numerical model show good agreement with published experimental observations.