Open Access

ARTICLE

An Integrated Model for Tension Stiffening and Reinforcement Corrosion of RC Flexural Members

Smitha Gopinath^1,2, J. Rajasankar¹, Nagesh R.Iyer¹, A.Rama Chandra Murthy¹

1 CSIR-Structural Engineering Research Centre, CSIR Campus, Taramani, Chennai-600113, India. Telephone: 91-44-22549209; Fax: 91-44-22541508
2 Corresponding author. E-mail: smithag@serc.res.in, smithagopinath13@yahoo.com

Computers, Materials & Continua 2013, 33(1), 87-110. https://doi.org/10.3970/cmc.2013.033.087

Abstract

An integrated model is proposed to describe tension stiffening in reinforced concrete (RC) flexural members that are undergoing uniform corrosion of reinforcement. The tension stiffening model is taken as base to incorporate the effects of reinforcement corrosion. The model is developed in two steps. In the first step, tension stiffening of concrete is modelled using an exponential stress-strain curve defined as function of a decay parameter. Modular ratio and reinforcement ratio are considered in the definition of the decay parameter. In the second step, the effects of uniform corrosion of reinforcement are integrated with the tension stiffening model. For this, fractional reduction in bar diameter is included as an additional parameter in the model. Later, global damage indicator of a structure is defined based on the secant stiffness calculated from its nonlinear load-displacement response. Performance of the proposed model is demonstrated through numerical studies using two RC beams whose details as well as responses are available in literature. Subsequently, the calculated values of damage indicator are shown useful to quantify reduction in load-carrying capacity of the beams. Based on such quantification, effect of assumed corrosion rates of reinforcement bar on capacity loss of the beam is studied in detail.

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