Distribution of millscale on corroded steel bars and penetration of steel corrosion products in concrete

This study investigated a reinforced concrete specimen that had deteriorated in an artificial environment for 2 years. The steel/concrete interface and corrosion-induced cracks were observed by SEM to investigate the millscale on the rebar surface and the distribution of rust. The millscale was not further oxidised before the surface cracking of the concrete cover. The penetration of corrosion products into concrete and the formation of a corrosion layer proceeded simultaneously. The rust did not fill the corrosion-induced cracks in concrete. Instead of the three-stage model, a two-stage model is proposed to describe the concrete cracking process induced by steel corrosion. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.