Finite Element Analysis of Shear Strength Degradation of Reinforced Concrete Members with Corrosion

Many reinforced concrete structures are exposed to adverse environmental conditions that lead to the corrosion of embedded steel reinforcement which causes the reduction of structural performance in the context of flexural strength, compressive strength and shear strength etc. Previous researchers mainly focused on the effects of corrosion damage on flexural behavior of reinforced concrete members and effects of corrosion on shear behaviour is not properly investigated. Finite element analysis has become a tool in analysing of reinforced concrete structures with adequate modeling assumptions. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the shear failure mechanism and shear capacity in longitudinally reinforced concrete beams with limited transverse reinforcement subjected to different levels of corrosion. Numerous finite element analyses were performed on concrete members with different corrosion conditions. Few concrete specimens were undergone accelerated corrosion to reduce cross sectional area of rebar thus affecting required the level of corrosion. The finite element analysis results were compared with experimental results in order to validate the developed finite element models. A parametric study was done by varying the corrosion damaged parameters and an averaged diameter with a maximum corroded pit was considered corrosion condition modelling. Residual shear capacity and percentage reduction in shear strength was analysed in accordance with corrosion damaged parameters. Empirical equations were developed to predict the residual shear capacity of corrosion damaged reinforced concrete members which can be used by structural engineers in making timely decisions.