Influencia del espesor del recubrimiento de elementos de hormigón armado expuestos a procesos de corrosión y sometidos a cargas externas

When studies are done in reinforced concrete, it is important to consider the action of external loads, since that is the most common situation in structures. In this study we present the results of exposing reinforced concrete beams to a process of accelerated corrosion, while under bending stresses caused by loads that generate equal tensile stresses on the corroded reinforcements. The beams were built with different cover thicknesses over the reinforcements, and with a 25 MPa characteristic resistance concrete. This study shows the influence of the cover thickness over the corrosion process and its external manifestation (cover cracking), under the same mechanical stress.

Keywords:tension corrosion reinforcement; cover; cracking.