Crack Shape of Corrosion-Induced Cracking in the Concrete Cover

The shape of the corrosion-induced cracks in the concrete cover is investigated and a linear model is proposed to describe the variation of the total circumferential crack width along the radial direction in the concrete cover. The parameters in the model can be interpreted physically to describe various characteristics of the corrosion-induced cracks. The corrosion-induced crack propagation process is discussed and the crack shape prior to, at the point of, and after the concrete surface cracking are schematically described. This study found that the use of recycled aggregate in the concrete mixture not only resulted in early corrosion-induced concrete surface cracking but also accelerated the propagation of the corrosion-induced cracks.