Effect of corrosion pattern on the ductility of tensile reinforcement extracted from a 26-year-old corroded beam

Tension tests were carried out to investigate the effect of the corrosion pattern on the ductility of tension bars extracted from a 26-year-old corroded reinforced concrete beam. The tensile behavior of corroded bars with different corrosion patterns was examined carefully, as were two non-corroded bars extracted from a 26-year-old control beam. The results show that corrosion leads to an increase in the ratio of the ultimate strength over the yield strength, but reduces the ultimate strain at maximum force of the reinforcement. Both the corrosion pattern and the corrosion intensity play an important role in the ductile properties. The asymmetrical distribution of the corrosion around the surface is a decisive factor, which can influence the ultimate strain at maximum force more seriously.