Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 February 2011
Stress corrosion phenomena, i.e. significant effects of mechanical stresses on the corrosion resistance of materials, have been reported for a large variety of materials, including metals, oxides and halides. Recently it has been shown [1,2] that cementitious materials are also sensitive to stress corrosion. The time dependent decrease in the flexural strength of chemically stressed concrete and mortar depends significantly on the mechanical stress acting simultaneously with the chemical attack.
For cementitious materials a comprehensive study of the stress corrosion phenomena has been started. In this paper the latest results from the current research program are presented and the interrelations between the microstructure of hardened cement mortar and the strength reduction caused by stress corrosion, are briefly discussed.