Creep and durability aspects of ordinary reinforced FRC beams

Corrosion of steel reinforcement is one of the principal causes of deterioration in concrete structures. Corrosion mechanisms are accelerated by the presence of cracks which represent a preferable way for ingress of water and aggressive agents. Fibers embedded into concrete matrix generally reduce the crack widths of ordinary reinforced concrete structural elements and hence may improve durability of reinforced concrete structures especially of those exposed to aggressive environments. To date quantitative results on the effect of fibers on durability of cracked RC members under service loads is still lacking in the literature. The present research aims at studying the influence of fibers on durability of ordinary reinforced beams exposed in a coastal area under sustained load. Durability tests were performed in order to assess the influence of the presence of fibers on carbonation depth and chloride content.