Use of a 3D optical measurement technique for stochastic corrosion pattern analysis of reinforcing bars subjected to accelerated corrosion

•An optical measurement technique for 3D characterisation of corrosion pattern.•Signal processing and corrosion pattern analysis of corroded reinforcing bars.•Probabilistic distribution models for the geometrical properties of corroded bars. The 3D corrosion patterns of 23 reinforcing bars subjected to accelerated corrosion are characterised using an optical surface measurement technique. A stochastic signal processing methodology is employed for corrosion pattern analysis of the measured data. The statistical analysis of corrosion pattern data shows that a lognormal distribution model can represent the non-uniform distribution of pitted sections along the corroded bars. It was observed that the frequency of corrosion is independent from the mass loss ratio and the length of the bars. Finally, a set of probabilistic distribution models for the geometrical properties of corroded bars is developed.