A fully coupled depth-dependent corrosion model for reinforced concrete piles under marine environmental conditions

Abstract

The corrosion of reinforced concrete (RC) piles in marine conditions demands comprehensive modelling to mitigate risks and enhance structural safety. This study develops a fully coupled, depth-dependent multi-ion reactive corrosion model for RC piles based on poroelastic theory to capture the interactions of chloride ions, sulphate ions, and carbonation across distinct marine exposure zones (atmospheric, splash, tidal, and submerged). Model validation against field experimental data confirms the splash zone as the most vulnerable due to the higher binding affinity of aggressive ions on the surface driven by dynamic exposure conditions. Parametric analysis reveals that increasing cover thickn..