Corrosion damage identification for reinforced concrete beam using embedded piezoelectric transducer: Numerical simulation

This paper performed a numerical simulation on corrosion damage identification using embedded piezoceramic (PZT) transducers. Three-dimensional finite element (FE) model of a full-scaled RC beam was generated with experimental validation, where three groups of PZT sensors in depth, width and longitudinal directions of the beam were simulated to evaluate corrosion damage rate correlated to concrete/rebar parameters including mass loss, cross-section loss, elastic modulus, strength and bond-slip relationship at steel-concrete interface. Simulation and experimental results indicated that corrosion severity was well reflected in resonance characteristics of PZT admittance and its derived root mean square deviation (RMSD) as well as mechanical impedance. Based on the results, a new sensitivity index was proposed for evaluating corrosion evolution, which suggested that the optimal sensor location was in the depth direction of the beam within a scope of 400 mm, and corrosion evolution as corrosion initiation and crack propagation stages could be effectively identified.