Corrosion of Reinforcement in UHPFRC: A Preliminary Study Including the Effect of Cracking

Ultra-High Performance Fibre-Reinforced Concrete (UHPFRC) is characterized by high compressive strength, strain-hardening behaviour in tension and very low porosity. After cracking, crack opening is controlled by the fibres. Therefore, UHPFRC is generally considered as a very durable material and is frequently used in combination with reinforcement for elements exposed to severe environmental conditions. However, scientific evidence on the long-term behaviour of reinforcement embedded in UHPFRC is limited, especially if the simultaneous presence of cracks and chemical attack is considered. This contribution presents the results of a preliminary study carried out to characterize the corrosion behaviour of reinforcement in UHPFRC. Mechanical and durability-related properties of a commercial UHPFRC were determined. Accelerated and long-term corrosion tests were initiated on cracked and uncracked prisms reinforced with carbon or stainless steel rebars.