Comparative study of the mechanical behavior of stainless steel and carbon steel reinforcements, depending on their degree of corrosion

In this work, the mechanical behavior of stainless steel rebars was experimentally evaluated, as a function of their degree of corrosion, in comparison with the mechanical behavior of carbon steel. For this purpose, 16 mm diameter rebars of stainless steel and carbon steel, corroded in an accelerated way in a previous stage and with the presence of chloride ion as a triggering factor, were subjected to tensile tests in order to study the effect of corrosion on their mechanical properties and ductility based on the concept of equivalent steel. From the results it was possible to verify that the influence of corrosion on stainless steels is much lower than that of carbon steel, complying with the minimum values established in the European standards for reinforced concrete structures (CM-90, EC2 and EHE).