Abstract
The paper includes automated modeling and experimental verification of corrosion in reinforced concrete construction under the effect of varying oxygen concentration. Various construction corrosion cells with different concrete compositions under four different environmental conditions (air dry, submerged, 95% R.H and alternate wetting-drying) have been investigated under controlled laboratory conditions. Using the results (half-cell potential and gravimetric corrosion mass loss) of these laboratory tests and an automated computer-aided simulation model based on mass and energy transfer through the porous construction media for the corrosion process, it was possible to predict, maintain and manage the influence of oxygen concentration on the corrosion rate of the reinforcement in concrete construction under various defined conditions satisfactorily. The variation in oxygen concentration available for corrosion reaction has been taken into account simulating the actual construction field conditions such as by varying concrete cover depth, relative humidity, water-cement ratio, etc. The modeling task has been incorporated by the use of an automated computer based construction durability model 'DuCOM' developed by our construction research group at The University of Tokyo as a finite element computational approach for the effect of oxygen on corrosion in relation to W/C, concrete cover, chloride concentration and various environmental humidity construction conditions. This paper is of interest to a broad readership for those interested in automation in reinforced concrete construction involving durability design & engineering related to corrosion of steel in concrete, corrosion resistant construction technology, corrosion maintenance & management. The scope of this paper encompasses various stages of the corrosion in construction life cycle from initial planning and design, through construction of steel reinforced concrete facility, its operation and maintenance, to the estimation of demolishing due to limiting oxygen controlled corrosion damage. This paper contains novel investigations involving computer-aided durability design, corrosion modeling under varying oxygen, classification and standardization of corrosion product data. The paper incorporates mass and energy process simulation models and graphics for the effect of oxygen on corrosion and its automated inspection as well as management. This comprehensive automated modeling and experimental investigation involving variety of materials and environmental variables will help in profound understanding, maintenance and management of oxygen controlled corrosion reaction in RC construction and will provide significant future research prospects in the field of oxygen limiting automated corrosion modeling of RC construction. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.