Effect of non-uniform corrosion on the cracking propagation of the RC specimens

Abstract This paper investigates the influence of non-uniform corrosion of the mild steel reinforcement on the cracking propagation of the concrete cover. Partial surface of the reinforcement was coated by an epoxy resin in order to prevent the covered surface of the steel from corrosion. As a result, the reinforcement was corroded partially along the surface by an impressed current in this way. The corrosion propagation of the steel reinforcement and the corrosion-induced cracking process was investigated during different corrosion periods. The width and the cracking paths were observed carefully. The results showed that two cracking paths would happen to the concrete cover due to the non-uniform corrosion of the steel reinforcement, including the corrosion-induced crack along the radius direction of the concrete cover and two branches in the secant direction of the corrosion zone. The aggregate of the concrete could also influence the propagation of the cracking path significantly.