We present a new mechanistic framework for corrosion-induced cracking in reinforced concrete that resolves the underlying chemo-mechanical processes. The framework combines, for the first time, (i) a model for reactive transport and precipitation of dissolved Fe2+ and Fe3+ ions in the concrete pore space, (ii) a precipitation eigenstrain model for the pressure caused by the accumulation of precipitates (rusts) under pore confinement conditions, (iii) a phase-field model calibrated for the quasi-brittle fracture behaviour of concrete, and (iv) a damage-dependent diffusivity tensor. Finite element model predictions show good agreement with experimental data from impressed current tests under natural-like corrosion current densities.
@article{arxiv.2306.01903,
title = {A phase-field chemo-mechanical model for corrosion-induced cracking in reinforced concrete},
author = {E. Korec and M. Jirasek and H. S. Wong and E. Martínez-Pañeda},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2306.01903},
year = {2023}
}