Modelling durability of reinforced concrete structures

Existing models for predicting the time to the commencement of serious reinforcement corrosion in chloride conditions provide results that do not compare well with long-term observations and practical experience for actual concrete structures. Many high-quality concrete structures show little or no evidence of serious corrosion, even after decades of exposure to chloride conditions. Earlier it was proposed that the mechanisms for corrosion initiation differ from those for long-term corrosion. This is reviewed. New research shows corrosion initiation is dominated by the presence of air voids adjacent to the reinforcement. For good concretes this is mainly a short-term transient effect. Long-term active corrosion is the direct result of the usually slow loss of concrete alkalinity, a process accelerated by chlorides. This, rather than direct chloride attack, is the cause of damaging reinforcement corrosion. It is argued also that the role of concrete cracking intersecting the reinforcement must be reconsidered. These new interpretations open up the way for improved modelling and prediction of ‘chloride-induced’ corrosion.