Project - Spatial and Time-Dependent Reliability Analysis of Structures Subject to Reinforcement Corrosion.

Investigators
Prof M G Stewart, Dr Q Suo, Mr J Mullard

Project Description
Corrosion in Reinforced Concrete (RC) structures is a significant cause of structural deterioration, leading to cracking and spalling and loss of structural capacity. The Australian Research Council funded project is developing spatial and time-dependent reliability analyses for deteriorating structures, particularly for reinforcement corrosion. Probabilistic models have been developed for pitting corrosion, that consider rebar length, rebar diameter and time. Corrosion can also affect the mechanical properties of rebars. Experimental studies have been used to develop crack initiation and propagation models. This now allows a spatial time-dependent reliability analysis to predict the likelihood and extent of corrosion damage to a RC surface, and how maintenance/repair strategies can extend the service life of RC structures. Recent work is focusing on updating reliability predictions using visual and other inspection data.

Selected Publications  

  • Stewart, M.G. (2004), Spatial Variability of Pitting Corrosion and its Influence on Structural Fragility and Reliability of RC Beams In Flexure, Structural Safety, Vol. 26, No. 4, pp. 453-470.
  • Vu, K.A.T. and Stewart, M.G. (2005), Predicting the Likelihood and Extent of RC Corrosion-Induced Cracking, Journal of Structural Engineering, ASCE, Vol. 131, No. 11, pp. 1681-1689.
  • Vu, K.A.T., Stewart, M.G. and Mullard, J.A. (2005), Corrosion-Induced Cracking: Experimental Data And Predictive Models, ACI Structural Journal, Vol. 102, No. 5, pp. 719-726.
  • Stewart, M.G. (2006), Spatial Variability of Damage and Expected Maintenance Costs for Deteriorating RC Structures, Structure and Infrastructure Engineering, Vol. 2, No. 2, pp. 79-90.
  • Stewart, M.G. and Mullard, J.A. (2007), Spatial Time-Dependent Reliability Analysis of Corrosion Damage and the Timing of First Repair for RC Structures, Engineering Structures Vol. 29, No. 7, pp. 1457-1464.
  • Stewart, M.G. (2009), Mechanical Behaviour of Pitting Corrosion of Flexural and Shear Reinforcement and its Effect on Structural Reliability of Corroding RC Beams, Structural Safety, Vol. 31, No. 1, pp. 19-30.
  • Stewart, M.G. and Suo, Q. (2009), Extent of Spatially Variable Corrosion Damage as an Indicator of Strength and Time-Dependent Reliability of RC Beams, Engineering Structures, (in press).