The topic "Effect of Corrosion into the Reinforcement and to the Strength of Structural Member"

focuses on how the corrosion of steel reinforcement impacts the overall strength and performance of a
structure.

What is This Topic All About?

 Reinforcement corrosion happens when the steel bars inside concrete react with moisture and
air, leading to rust. This weakens the steel and, as a result, the entire structure.

 Structural members (like beams, columns, and slabs) rely on the strength of both the concrete
and the reinforcement to carry loads. When the reinforcement corrodes, it reduces the
structure’s ability to carry these loads safely, leading to possible failure over time.

Explanation in the Easiest Way:

1. Corrosion Weakens Steel: The steel bars inside concrete are supposed to make the structure
strong. When they corrode, the steel becomes thinner and weaker.

2. Cracks and Concrete Damage: Corroded steel expands, causing cracks in the concrete. This
makes the structure even weaker because cracked concrete can’t carry loads well.

3. Loss of Structural Strength: The combination of weakened steel and cracked concrete means the
whole structure can't support as much weight as it was designed for. Over time, this could lead
to a collapse or other serious issues.

Subtopics to Discuss Under This Main Topic:

To make your report comprehensive, you can break it down into these key subtopics:

1. Causes of Corrosion in Reinforcement (2-3 minutes)

 Moisture and Oxygen Penetration: Discuss how water and air get into concrete (e.g., cracks or
insufficient cover), causing the steel bars to rust.

 Chloride Ingress: Explain how chlorides (from de-icing salts, seawater, etc.) speed up corrosion.

2. Stages of Corrosion (2 minutes)

 Initiation Stage: When moisture and air start reaching the steel, but no visible signs of damage
appear yet.

 Propagation Stage: When corrosion is actively weakening the steel, causing it to expand, and
cracks begin to appear in the concrete.

3. Effects of Corrosion on Reinforcement (3 minutes)

 Reduction in Steel Cross-Section: Corrosion eats away at the steel, reducing its thickness, which
makes it less able to carry loads.

 Loss of Bond Strength: The bond between the steel and concrete weakens because the rust
reduces the grip of the concrete on the steel.

4. Effects of Corrosion on the Structural Member’s Strength (3 minutes)

  Cracking and Spalling of Concrete: Corroding steel expands and causes cracks, which can
eventually lead to pieces of concrete falling off (spalling).

 Reduction in Load-Carrying Capacity: Both the steel and concrete lose their ability to carry
loads, making the structure weaker overall.

 Potential for Structural Failure: Discuss how long-term corrosion can lead to major damage or
even collapse.

5. Prevention and Control of Corrosion (2-3 minutes)

 Adequate Concrete Cover: Ensuring proper cover thickness based on the environment.

 Use of Protective Coatings: Applying coatings to steel or concrete to protect against corrosion.

 Cathodic Protection: Using electrical methods to prevent corrosion.

 Regular Maintenance and Inspections: Identifying cracks or corrosion early and repairing the
structure.

Conclusion:

Wrap up by emphasizing the critical importance of preventing reinforcement corrosion to maintain the
strength of structural members. Highlight how engineers can use design, materials, and maintenance
practices to protect structures from corrosion-related damage.

This structure should help you cover the topic in a clear and organized manner while staying within the
10-15 minute timeframe.
  Loss of Bond Strength: Discuss how rust weakens the grip between the concrete and the steel,
leading to a reduced load-carrying capacity.

Example: "As steel corrodes, it loses its thickness, making it less capable of carrying the loads it was
designed for. Additionally, rust weakens the bond between the concrete and steel, which further reduces
the strength of the structure."

5. Effects of Corrosion on Structural Member’s Strength (3-4 minutes)

 Cracking and Spalling of Concrete: Explain how the expanding rust causes the concrete to crack,
and eventually, pieces of the concrete may fall off (spalling).

 Reduction in Load-Carrying Capacity: Discuss how both the steel and the concrete lose their
ability to carry loads, making the structure weaker overall.

 Potential for Structural Failure: Emphasize how, if left unchecked, corrosion can lead to serious
damage or even collapse of the structure.

Example: "When corrosion causes steel to expand, it cracks the concrete, which can lead to spalling. This
reduces the structural member’s ability to carry loads, and in severe cases, can cause structural failure."

6. Prevention and Control of Corrosion (3 minutes)

 Adequate Concrete Cover: Highlight the importance of ensuring the proper thickness of the
concrete cover according to building standards like NSCP 2015.

 Use of Protective Coatings: Mention methods like applying protective coatings to steel or
concrete to reduce exposure to corrosive elements.

 Cathodic Protection: Explain how electrical methods can be used to stop corrosion in existing
structures.

 Regular Maintenance and Inspections: Stress the importance of routine inspections and
maintenance to catch corrosion early and make necessary repairs.

Example: "Preventing corrosion starts with proper design and construction. Ensuring adequate concrete
cover, using protective coatings, and regularly inspecting structures are all key steps in preventing
corrosion and maintaining strength."

7. Conclusion (2 minutes)

 Summary: Recap how corrosion impacts reinforcement and reduces the strength of structural
members.

 Final Thought: Emphasize the importance of preventing corrosion to maintain the safety and
longevity of structures.
Example: "In summary, corrosion weakens the reinforcement, leading to reduced strength and potential
failure of the structural member. By following proper construction practices and regular maintenance,
we can prevent this from happening and ensure the safety and durability of our structures."

Time Breakdown:

 Introduction: 2 minutes

 Causes of Corrosion: 2-3 minutes

 Stages of Corrosion: 2 minutes

 Effects on Reinforcement: 3 minutes

 Effects on Structural Strength: 3-4 minutes

 Prevention and Control: 3 minutes

 Conclusion: 2 minutes

This sequence should help you cover all the necessary points in your report while staying within the 10-
15 minute timeframe.
For the topic "Effect of Corrosion into the Reinforcement and to the Strength of Structural Member",
the calculations would focus on how corrosion reduces the structural capacity and performance of
reinforced concrete members. These calculations typically involve determining the reduction in steel
cross-section and how this affects the strength of the beam or column. Here’s a simplified guide to the
types of calculations that could be relevant for your report:

1. Reduction in Steel Cross-Section Due to Corrosion

 Purpose: To calculate how much the steel bars (reinforcement) have corroded and lost thickness
over time.

 Calculation: You can estimate the reduction in the diameter or cross-sectional area of the steel
bar over time due to corrosion.

 Formula:

o If the diameter of the steel bar before corrosion is D, and the corrosion penetration is p,
the new diameter of the steel bar after corrosion is:

o The loss in cross-sectional area A_{\text{loss}} is then calculated as:

This reduction in area impacts the bar’s ability to carry loads.

2. Impact on Tensile Strength of Steel Bars

 Purpose: To calculate how the reduction in cross-sectional area of the steel bars affects the
tensile strength of the reinforcement.

As the area decreases due to corrosion, the tensile strength (or load-carrying capacity) of the
reinforcement will reduce proportionally.

3. Effect on Structural Capacity (Flexural Capacity of Beams)

 Purpose: To calculate how the reduced steel area and strength affect the beam’s ability to carry
bending moments (flexural capacity).
After corrosion, the reduced cross-sectional area of the steel (A_s) will result in a lower moment
capacity, meaning the beam can’t carry as much load.

4. Reduction in Bond Strength

 Purpose: To estimate the loss in bond between the corroded steel and the surrounding concrete.

 Approximate Method: The bond strength between concrete and steel depends on the surface
condition of the steel. When steel corrodes, rust reduces this bond.

 Bond strength typically decreases by 20% to 50% for severely corroded steel, which impacts how
well the concrete can grip and transfer loads to the steel reinforcement.

5. Cracking and Spalling of Concrete

 Calculation of Crack Width: You can estimate the width of cracks caused by corrosion based on
the expansion of rust.

 Rust Expansion: Corrosion products (rust) occupy a larger volume than the original steel. This
expansion can cause cracking and spalling, which is quantified using empirical formulas based on
the degree of corrosion.

6. Estimating Time to Corrosion Initiation (Durability Design)

 Purpose: To estimate the time it takes for corrosion to initiate based on the cover depth and
environmental conditions.
This can help you predict how long the structure will remain durable before corrosion begins, based on
the thickness of the concrete cover.

Summary of Calculations:

 Reduction in steel cross-section and tensile strength are key calculations showing how corrosion
directly weakens the reinforcement.

 Flexural capacity reduction of beams is another essential calculation, showing how corrosion
affects the load-carrying ability of structural members.

 Bond strength reduction and the effects of corrosion-induced cracking can be approximated
based on empirical data or experimental results.

These calculations can demonstrate how corrosion diminishes the structural integrity of reinforced
concrete members over time. If you include sample calculations in your report, make sure to use a
practical example to illustrate the process clearly.
Here’s a sample problem to illustrate how to use the formulas related to "Effect of Corrosion into the
Reinforcement and to the Strength of Structural Member."

Sample Problem:

A reinforced concrete beam has a steel reinforcement bar with an initial diameter of 25 mm. Due to
corrosion, the diameter has been reduced by 2 mm after several years of exposure to a moist
environment. The yield strength of the steel is 400 MPa, and the effective depth of the beam is 450 mm.
Calculate:

1. The reduction in the steel bar’s cross-sectional area due to corrosion.

2. The reduction in the tensile strength of the corroded steel bar.

3. The reduction in the flexural capacity of the beam, assuming a rectangular stress block depth of
75 mm.

Step 1: Calculate Reduction in Cross-Sectional Area of Steel Bar

Initial diameter of the steel bar D = 25 mm

Corrosion penetration p = 2 mm

New diameter of the steel bar after corrosion:

So, the steel bar lost 144.51 mm² of its cross-sectional area due to corrosion.
Step 2: Calculate Reduction in Tensile Strength

Now, we calculate the tensile strength before and after corrosion.

 Tensile strength of original steel:

 Tensile strength of corroded steel:

 Reduction in tensile strength:

So, the steel bar’s tensile strength is reduced by 57.81 kN due to corrosion.

Step 3: Calculate Reduction in Flexural Capacity

To calculate the flexural capacity of the beam, we use the formula:

Where:

 As is the cross-sectional area of the reinforcement

 fy is the yield strength of the steel

 d is the effective depth of the beam = 450 mm

 a is the depth of the equivalent rectangular stress block = 75 mm

  Original flexural capacity:

Corroded flexural capacity:

Reduction in flexural capacity:

So, the flexural capacity of the beam is reduced by 23.79 kN-m due to corrosion.

Summary of Results:

1. Reduction in cross-sectional area: 144.51 mm²

2. Reduction in tensile strength: 57.81 kN

3. Reduction in flexural capacity: 23.79 kN-m

These results show how corrosion significantly weakens both the steel reinforcement and the overall
strength of the structural member.
Corrosion has significant effects on the shear, flexural, compression, and tensile strength of reinforced
concrete structures. Let’s break each of these down clearly and in a way that’s easy to understand.

1. Effects of Corrosion on Shear Strength:

 Definition of Shear Strength: Shear strength is the ability of a structure to resist sliding forces
along a plane, which often occurs in beams or slabs. Imagine a beam that has to carry a load—it
must resist the tendency for one part to slide over another.

 Impact of Corrosion: In reinforced concrete, stirrups (small steel bars placed vertically) provide
shear strength. When corrosion occurs, these stirrups weaken because their cross-sectional area
reduces due to rust. The rusted stirrups lose their ability to hold parts of the beam together,
making the beam more likely to fail under shear forces.

o Example: Think of a bridge beam exposed to weather. As the stirrups corrode, the
bridge’s ability to resist the load and movement of cars reduces. This could eventually
lead to cracking or even collapse.

2. Effects of Corrosion on Flexural Strength:

 Definition of Flexural Strength: Flexural strength is the ability of a beam or slab to resist bending
forces. This strength comes from the tension in the steel bars and the compression in the
concrete.

o Imagine a beam bending under the weight of something heavy. The top part of the
beam compresses, and the bottom stretches. The steel reinforcement in the tension
zone (bottom part) resists this stretching and prevents the beam from snapping.

 Impact of Corrosion: When corrosion affects the steel reinforcement, its ability to handle
tension decreases. Corroded steel bars have less cross-sectional area, meaning they cannot carry
as much load, weakening the entire beam.

o Example: If a parking structure’s beams are exposed to salty air, the steel starts rusting.
Over time, the beam becomes unable to resist the bending force of cars parked on top,
leading to deflection (sagging) or failure.

3. Effects of Corrosion on Compression Strength:

 Definition of Compression Strength: Compression strength refers to how well a material can
withstand forces that push it together. In concrete structures, columns and some parts of beams
are mainly subjected to compressive forces.

o The concrete itself provides most of the resistance to compression, while the steel
reinforcement helps control cracking and holds the concrete together under load.

 Impact of Corrosion: Although corrosion primarily affects the steel bars, its impact on the
compression zones can still be significant. Corroded steel can create internal stresses that cause
 cracking and spalling (flaking) of the concrete. As a result, the concrete’s ability to resist
compressive forces weakens.

o Example: In a high-rise building, columns take on a lot of compressive load. If the steel
inside those columns corrodes, cracks can form in the concrete. These cracks reduce the
column’s ability to support the building’s weight, leading to structural weaknesses.

4. Effects of Corrosion on Tensile Strength:

 Definition of Tensile Strength: Tensile strength is the ability of a material to resist pulling forces.
In reinforced concrete, steel bars provide tensile strength because concrete itself is very weak in
tension.

o For example, when a beam bends, the steel in the tensile zone (the part that stretches)
holds everything together.

 Impact of Corrosion: Corrosion has a direct effect on tensile strength because it reduces the
steel’s cross-sectional area, making it less effective at resisting tension. Rust also makes the steel
weaker and brittle, which means the bars could break under tension.

o Example: In a reinforced concrete slab that is part of a floor, corrosion in the steel bars
reduces the slab’s ability to resist stretching forces caused by the weight of people and
furniture. This could cause the floor to crack or buckle under stress.

Detailed Explanations for Each Effect:

Shear Strength and Corrosion:

When shear forces act on a beam, they cause diagonal cracking. Shear reinforcement (stirrups) helps
resist this cracking by holding the beam together. However, if corrosion occurs, the stirrups rust, which
reduces their diameter and cross-sectional area. This means they can’t hold the concrete as effectively,
making the beam more likely to fail under shear forces. The beam may crack along a diagonal path and
lose its capacity to support heavy loads. This is why corroded stirrups pose a serious risk in structures
that experience heavy shear forces, such as bridges or buildings with wide spans.

Flexural Strength and Corrosion:

The flexural strength of a beam is its ability to resist bending. When a beam bends, the steel
reinforcement at the bottom is in tension, and the concrete at the top is in compression. Corrosion
reduces the tensile capacity of the steel bars by causing rust, which decreases their cross-sectional area.
As the bars corrode, they expand and create internal cracks in the concrete, further weakening the
structure. This reduction in flexural strength can cause beams to deflect (sag) or even collapse under
loads they would otherwise be able to support. This is particularly dangerous in structures like parking
garages or bridges, where bending under load is common.

Compression Strength and Corrosion:

Compression strength is mostly provided by the concrete in a structure, but steel bars still play an
important role in supporting compression forces. When corrosion occurs, it creates pressure within the
concrete, leading to cracking and spalling. The concrete around the steel becomes weaker and less able
to resist compressive forces. In columns or load-bearing walls, corrosion can cause significant structural
damage because these elements need to resist heavy compressive loads. If not addressed, this can lead
to reduced capacity to carry vertical loads, potentially resulting in buckling or collapse.

Tensile Strength and Corrosion:

Tensile strength in concrete is provided almost entirely by the steel reinforcement, as concrete itself is
weak in tension. When steel bars corrode, they lose their ability to resist tension, and the entire
structure becomes less stable. Corroded steel also becomes brittle, which means it is more likely to
break under stress. In tension zones like the bottom of beams or slabs, this loss of strength can result
in cracking, sagging, or complete failure. This is particularly critical in floors, ceilings, and beams that
must support bending and stretching forces.

Summary of Effects:

 Shear Strength: Corrosion reduces the shear capacity by weakening stirrups, leading to diagonal
cracking and potential structural failure.

 Flexural Strength: Corroded steel bars in tension zones reduce the ability of beams and slabs to
resist bending, causing sagging or collapse.

 Compression Strength: Corrosion in steel reinforcement can cause cracking and spalling in
concrete, weakening the structure’s capacity to resist compressive forces.

 Tensile Strength: Corrosion weakens steel’s ability to resist tension, leading to cracks and
structural failure, especially in slabs and beams.

Final Takeaway:

Corrosion doesn’t just affect the steel reinforcement—it has a domino effect on the entire structure,
compromising the concrete’s ability to handle shear, flexural, compressive, and tensile forces.
Understanding how corrosion impacts each of these forces is crucial in designing structures that last and
ensuring that maintenance measures are in place to prevent catastrophic failure.