Corrosion-Induced Cover Cracking: New Test Data and Predictive Models

This paper presents an improved model that will be used to predict the timing of corrosion-induced cover cracking for reinforced concrete (RC) structures in chloride environments. An accelerated corrosion experimental program measured concrete cover cracking for RC slabs based on various concrete covers, concrete tensile strengths, and reinforcing bar diameters. A new empirical crack propagation model based on the test data was then developed. A correction factor for concrete confinement is proposed to account for bars located at edges and corners of RC structures. A rate of loading correction factor is applied to allow the cracking times for accelerated corrosion rates to be adjusted for the lower corrosion rates generally found in RC structures. A statistical analysis of model accuracy is used to account for variabilities between model prediction and experimental data.