Comparison of uniform and non-uniform corrosion induced damage in reinforced concrete based on a Gaussian description of the corrosion layer

Highlights: → Damage on concrete from uniform and non-uniform rebar corrosion is compared. → Reinforced concrete panels exposed to a simulated natural chloride environment. → Rebar corrosion examined using backscattered electron imaging and image analysis. → Non-uniform corrosion layer defined by a Gaussian function and used in FE analysis. → Form of rebar corrosion has a major influence on predicted residual service life. - Abstract: A Gaussian function is proposed to describe the non-uniform spatial distribution of corrosion products as measured from chloride-exposed reinforced concrete specimens using backscattered electron imaging and image analysis. The model provides a good fit to the observed data and limited data sets reported in the literature. Subsequently, it is used as an input into a finite element analysis to provide a qualitative comparison of the damage induced on concrete from idealized uniform corrosion and more realistic non-uniform corrosion. The spatial distribution of corrosion is shown to have a major impact on the propagation phase, directly influencing residual service life.