Influence of the exposure scenario on corrosion damage and life-cycle seismic performance of RC structures

This paper investigates the influence of the environmental aggressiveness and exposure scenario on the life-cycle seismic performance of reinforced concrete frames under chloride-induced corrosion. Chloride ingress and corrosion damage are described at cross-sectional level by two-dimensional concentration maps and damage indices. The seismic capacity of the deteriorating structure is evaluated by means of time-variant pushover analyses over the structural lifetime. The uncertainties are taken into account in probabilistic terms by Monte Carlo simulation. The procedure is applied to life-cycle seismic assessment of a three-storey frame under different exposure scenarios defined by varying both the concentration level and the spatial distribution of chlorides on the external surface of the structural members.