In-situ X-ray microcomputed tomography monitoring of steel corrosion in engineered cementitious composite (ECC)

Real-time and in-situ monitoring of the corrosion process of steel reinforcement covered by engineered cementitious composites (ECC) was conducted by using high-resolution X-ray microcomputed tomography. The test results revealed vividly that the corrosion-induced rusts fill into the pores near the steel and extend along the radial cracks towards the sample surface. Compared to plain mortar, ECC exhibits a few more microcracks and uniform crack distribution. While massive leaching of rust is found in the plain mortar, a significant amount of rust remains in the cracks of ECC. Through the image segmentation method, the volume loss of steel in ECC can be quantitatively monitored.