Test Observation (Crack) Short Column

Corrosion induced crack

Crack induced by accelerated corrosion, rust staining, flaky rust close to the crack area (because nacl
enter easier i.e. prone to water infiltration) - d

Crack location running parallel to reinforcing bar - d

Crack along T20 and propagation of crack expansion of corrosion material – d

Correlation of crack width and section mass loss

Stirrups corroded more severely due to less concrete cover and smaller diameter especially near at the
corner of the stirrup – d

Why different sides of columns have different crack severe? (side 1 most severe for most column)

Corrosion level – CC7 CC11 CC17 CC21 CC19 CC23 - d

Seismic induced crack mainly diagonal cracks

Spalling of cover concrete (tensile stress of T20 not transferred to cover concrete thus weaker)

Damage progression, crack propagation

Plastic hinge region, first crack formation

Spacing between transverse cracks

Last cycle crack formation

Crack widening

What happened at max shear and axial failure (crack?)

Crack angle of most severe crack

Show crack pattern at peak shear strength

Cracks are primarily diagonal cracks?

Comparison with uncorroded specimen

Failure mode for each specimen (before shear failure what happened?) + Initial stage of occurrence

What happens after shear maximum/failure and axial failure (Spalling? New crack?)

Changing of crack direction horizontal to diagonal

Corrosion induced

Every column face were categorized i.e. side 1 – 4. Side 1 was observed to be the most severely
corroded face of the column with the most cracks (Attach corrosion crack pic), thus it is chosen to be the
front face of the column. Column CC3 being the column subjected to highest corrosion level with widest
crack measuring 0.6mm. From visual inspection, cracks induced by accelerated corrosion runs parallel
with the longitudinal reinforcement bars. Brownish red stains and flaky rust was found to be
concentrated near cracks for every specimen. The above 2 observations is caused by the expansion of
corrosion product found (mainly?) on the longitudinal reinforcements (Attach figure of corroded T20?)
causing the concrete cover and rebar interface to lose bond strength and subsequently the cover
concrete loses its tensile strength leading to crack initiation. The opening of crack makes the column
more susceptible to water infiltration which explains the concentration of stains near cracks.

Transverse reinforcement – Outer transverse reinforcement is the most severely corroded

reinforcement with high sectional area loss. From observation, corrosion product covers the outer
transverse reinforcement almost entirely and pitting corrosion is common especially near the corner
section due to thinner concrete cover and smaller diameter which allow rapid “spreading” of corrosion
product. Rupture of outer transverse reinforcement’s corner after cyclic loading is also a common mode
of failure (Figure) as it is under high stress concentration induced during fabrication. On the other hand,
inner transverse reinforcement is protected from water infiltration due to its arrangement with higher
concrete cover. Only few corrosion products are observed and pitting corrosion is minimal.

Longitudinal reinforcement – Corrosion products & stains are found to be larger in size due to larger
surface area of the longitudinal reinforcement, with pitting corrosion tending to be more localized.
Corrosion induced cracks are more concentrated on the edge compared to the center of column face on
all column sides (Figure) due to combined expansion of corrosion product found on both longitudinal
and transverse outer reinforcement.

Seismic induced

Corroded columns – Every cracks appearing on the columns were marked with different color i.e. blue
and red indicating pushing and pulling of the horizontal actuator respectively. When subjected to cyclic
loading, cracks initially appear at plastic hinges of the column i.e. top and bottom – most face of the
column where discontinuity in elasticity occurs.