Tensile strength and oxide analysis of carbon steel in concrete exposed in atmospheric environment for 53 years

Abstract

The tensile strength of a corroded rebar in a 53-year-old concrete structure was studied. The microstructure of the metallic substrate, the fracture surface, and the corrosion product layers were investigated. Metallographic observation results showed that the carbon steel was constituted of ferrite and some pearlite. The tensile test results indicated that the corroded rebar presented low strength and elongation. In addition, the fracture surface of the rebar in the tensile test displayed dimple fracture behavior. The Raman spectroscopy results indicated that corrosion products at the general corrosion zone were obviously different from those at the localized corrosion zone. The rust layer at the general corrosion zone was composed of goethite (α-FeOOH), magnetite (Fe₃O₄), and hematite (α-Fe₂O₃), while that of the pitting zone was made of feroxyhyte (δ-FeOOH), goethite (α-FeOOH), and hematite (α-Fe₂O₃). However, the general tendencies that the corrosion products were constituted of a mix of oxides and hydroxides, the oxides mainly existed in the internal part and the hydroxides more presented in the external layer were observed.

Keywords

concrete / reinforcing steel / tensile strength / micro-raman / corrosion / oxide layers

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