Probabilistic assessment of the moment-curvature response of PC beams with different corrosion scenarios

Corrosion of the reinforcement significantly affects the resistance and ductility of concrete members. While various approaches have been proposed to study the sectional response of corroded reinforced concrete structures, the effects of corrosion on prestressed concrete (PC) members still poses significant challenges. Therefore, this study focuses on investigating the bending resistance of prestressed concrete sections with different corrosion scenarios through probabilistic assessment using Monte Carlo simulations based on preliminary results of previous work. First, the mechanical properties of the materials and the investigated pit depths have been established as input parameters of the cross-sectional model. To account for corrosion in the constitutive behaviour of the prestressing strands, the Simplified Model for Corroded Prestressing Strands (SCPS model) has been adopted. Furthermore, different statistical distributions of the pit depths are derived to represent different corrosion scenarios. Subsequently, Monte-Carlo simulations are utilized to capture the inherent randomness associated with the mechanical properties and pit depths in the sectional response of PC elements. Based on the outcome of these simulations, the influence of corrosion on the moment-curvature response as well as the expected failure mode are assessed. Finally, the latter results are investigated for different scenarios of corrosion, providing a comprehensive understanding of the effects of corrosion in PC elements and the associated uncertainties. These findings are relevant to researchers, engineers, and practitioners involved in the design, assessment, and maintenance of prestressed concrete structures