Numerical Modeling of the Thermal Behavior of Corrosion on Reinforced Concrete

The bars in the concrete require a regular and permanent control in order to avoid the risks caused by the corrosion. In this work we present a thermal method of non destructive testing of the structures, based on numerical modeling in three dimensions. The goal is to study the detectability and the behavior of rust in the steel in transient mode by using a thermal characterization. The model of a parallelepipedic structure of concrete containing armatures of cylindrical form is adopted. This structure is supposed to be excited in the higher face by a heat flux, the lower face being maintained at constant temperature and the others faces are supposed thermically isolated. Keyword: corrosion, rust, bars, infra-red thermography, finite elements.