Modeling Reinforced Concrete Durability: Fid-Bau Portal

Modeling Reinforced Concrete Durability

N.A Sanchez / A.A Sagues

This project developed a next-generation modeling approach for projecting the extent of reinforced concrete corrosion-related damage, customized for new and existing Florida Department of Transportation bridges and suitable for adapting to broader use within the FDOT. The modeling approach incorporates a series of advanced features that include in the first place a probabilistic treatment of the damage prediction calculations with statistical variability in surface concentration, concrete cover, and chloride diffusion coefficient. Additionally, the model incorporates the effect of steel potential on corrosion threshold by the use of a potential-dependent threshold correction function. Additional features are type of rebar material, geometric aggravation effects from rebar presence, and corners and curvature in the concrete surface. The model has also functionality for variability in environmental aggressiveness conditions as a function of elevation above water and for location of structural components in various environments in the same bridge. Experiments were conducted to resolve shortages in potential-dependent threshold data. The results produced improved input parameters for the model calculations that developed the threshold-effect correction function.