Corrosion initiation life and lateral bearing capacity of RC square piles considering different corrosion zones

AbstractThis paper analyzes the differences in the corrosion initiation life and lateral bearing capacity of reinforced concrete (RC) square piles in different marine corrosion zones. A chloride diffusion model is presented by considering the effect of environmental factors on the chloride apparent diffusion coefficient. Different surface chloride concentration models in different corrosion zones are used to predict the corrosion initiation life of RC square piles. The time-dependent degradation law of bending stiffness of RC square piles in different marine corrosion zones is investigated. The lateral bearing capacity of RC square piles with different bending stiffness reductions in different corrosion zones is analyzed. The analysis results show that the corrosion initiation life of RC square piles decreases sequentially in the atmospheric zone, submerged zone, and tidal and splash zones. At the same exposure time, the stiffness reduction coefficient in the tidal and splash zones is the smallest, compared with atmospheric zone and submerged zone. The maximum lateral displacement, bending moment and negative shear force of RC square piles with variable stiffness are greater than those of invariable stiffness piles in different corrosion zones.Keywords: Atmospheric zonecorrosion initiation lifelateral bearing capacitysubmerged zonetidal and splash zones Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s)Additional informationFundingThis research was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 52078289), the Shanghai International Science and Technology Cooperation Project (Grant No. 19520744100), State Key Laboratory of Hydraulic Engineering Simulation and Safety (Tianjin University) (Grant No. HESS-2321), and State Key Laboratory of Coastal and Offshore Engineering (Dalian University of Technology) (Grant No. LP2111).