Influence of steel–concrete interface defects induced by top-casting on development of chloride-induced corrosion in RC beams under sustained loading

This paper discusses the effect of defects in a steel–concrete interface under horizontal top-cast steel bars on the development of corrosion in reinforced concrete beams under sustained loading exposed to a chloride environment. The work was based on four beams exposed to climate accelerated natural corrosion for 29 months. The corrosion-induced cracking patterns were drawn after 8 and 24 months of exposure to the chloride environment, and...