25 years of field exposure of pre-cracked concrete beams; combined impact of spacers and cracks on reinforcement corrosion

• Increased ingress at cracks in 25 years old marine concrete. Severe corrosion connection with plastic spacers, none or negligible cracks. Corrosion the “weakest link” appears to protect remaining steel. The state of three pre-cracked concrete beams was investigated after exposure (atmospheric, tidal and submerged). influence inadequate spacers found overrule possible impact bending on reinforcement corrosion. chloride detected cracked areas, but very little observed where reached reinforcement. Also, high content measured uncracked parts beams, no limited outside a few It is hypothesised that corrosion, initiated early weak spots (here spacers) can from