Comparison of experimental corrosion levels of corroded reinforced concrete columns with theoretical corrosion levels based on equivalent current density

There is a strong scientific rationale for accelerating corrosion by using an equivalent current to achieve desired corrosion ratios without compromising the formation of corrosion products. Although the applied equivalent current technique has the advantage of corroding the rebar embedded in the concrete at certain constant rates, the corrosion ratio induced by the equivalent current cannot fully reflect the actual corrosion ratio. Reasons why theoretical and actual corrosion mass losses are not the same; it is attributed to various factors such as the resistance of the concrete, the composition of the rebar, the electrical properties of the minerals in the concrete. The aim of this research, to the knowledge of the authors, is to establish an empirical relationship between the calculated theoretical corrosion ratio and the actual corrosion ratio, using experimental data created with previously recorded corrosion current density measurements of 24 reinforced concrete column specimens exposed to corrosion at different concrete compressive levels. It is planned to compare the experimental findings obtained using the empirical model to be developed with the results obtained using a theoretical model reported in the literature. Thus, it is expected that reinforcement corrosion can be evaluated more accurately by using equivalent current values measured non-destructively.