Finite element analysis of cracking and delamination of concrete beam due to steel corrosion

This paper presents the analytical results to investigate cracking and delamination of concrete beam due to steel corrosion. A series of concrete beams were idealised as two dimensional models via their cross section and analysed using the finite element software – LUSAS. The corrosion of steel bars was simulated using a radial expansion. The FE results show that cracking of beam section due to steel corrosion can be clarified into four types, i.e., Internal Cracking, Internal Penetration, External Cracking (HS) and External Cracking (VB). The amount of corrosion in term of radial expansion required to causes Internal Cracking, Internal Penetration, External Cracking (HS) and External Cracking (VB) varies almost linearly with bar diameter d, bar clear distance s and concrete cover c, respectively. If the ratio s/c was less than the critical value of about 2.2, the delamination of concrete cover could occur before the cracks can be visualised on the concrete surface, which does concern engineers.