• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.867-873
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• 2010

This study investigated the corrosion properties of reinforced concrete with the addition of steel fibers. The transport properties of steel fiber-reinforced concrete such as permeable void, absorption by capillary action, water permeability and chloride diffusion were first measured to evaluate the relationship with the corrosion of steel rebar. Test results showed a slight increase on the compressive strength with the addition of steel fibers as well as considerable improvement of penetration resistance to mass transport of harmful materials into concrete. The addition of steel fibers in reinforced concrete accelerated the initiation of steel corrosion contrary to the expected results based on the measured transport properties. The NaCl ponding surface showed the spalling failure due to the corrosion expansion of steel fibers and the cut-surface around the steel rebar showed the localized steel fiber's corrosion. The wet-dry cycling with high chloride ions as well as high temperature seems to induce the increase of salt crystallization on the pores continually and the increased pressure with the steel fiber's corrosion on the pores caused the spalling failure on the exposed surface. The microcracking on the surface therefore accelerated the movement of water, chloride ions and oxygen into the embedded steel rebar. The mechanism affecting corrosion of embedded steel reinforcement with steel fibers in this study are not yet fully understood and require further study comprising of accurate experimental design to isolate the effect of steel fiber's potential mechanism on the corrosion process.