Structural effects of simultaneous loading and reinforcement corrosion on performance of concrete beams

The paper aims to investigate the structural performance of a concrete beam subjected to simultaneous loading and reinforcement corrosion. The beam specimens were subjected to an accelerated corrosion, while they sustained a constant point load and their self-weight, until they failed in load-bearing capacity. The experimental results indicate that, under the same service loads, the time-dependant deflection of a corroded beam increases more rapidly than those of a non-corroded beam, and is likely to reach the limit deflection for its serviceability prematurely. Both ultimate strength and maximum deflection of a concrete beam subjected to simultaneous loading and reinforcement corrosion decrease more than those of the beams tested under a separate loading and corrosion condition. Either a further development of corrosion or an occasional over-loading or both are likely to cause a beam under service loads to fail and even collapse suddenly without significant warning in term of its deflection.