PSI - Issue 67

Gabriele Milone et al. / Procedia Structural Integrity 67 (2025) 90–106 G. Milone et al./ Structural Integrity Procedia 00 (2024) 000 – 000

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Figure 8. Visual correlation between (a) corrosion products presence within the cementitious matrix and (b) fracture width and location in relation to attack penetration.

3.2. Corrosion sensing

3.2.1. Unconfined rebar This section focuses on the corrosion investigation of chlorides-contaminated reinforced mortar elements featuring a minimal cover depth of 4.8 mm via CB-based sensing coatings. The sample configuration before and after corrosion development is represented in Figure 9 for three identical specimens. While samples #1 and #2 experienced fracture on the top surface, where the coatings were applied, it was not possible to witness any significant crack opening in sample #3, once again underlining the pronounced stochastic variability of the oxide propagation and limitations of this setting (Yao, Chen, and Lu, 2019).