LAUSR

Abstract This paper simulates the stress concentration caused by adjacent corrosion pits using experimental and numerical method. A detailed three-dimensional finite element solid model is established and validated by individual notched specimen. The shape factor and shape transformation factor are proposed to represent the relationship between the stress concentration factor induced by individual ellipse and triangular notch. A distance factor and an angle factor are integrated to represent the stress concentration factor resulted from adjacent notches. Quantitative expressions for stress concentration factors in multiple scenarios are obtained. The results show that the adjacent notches distributed along the longitudinal direction of rebar with a relative angle of 0° induced stress concentration factor is close to that the individual ellipse notch when the notch spacing exceeds a critical distance (6 mm), and using the latter scenario instead of the former scenario for simplified modelling process has an insignificant effect on stress concentration. For the adjacent notches distributed along the cross-section direction of rebar with a relative angle of 90°, the maximum stress is approximately 40% higher than that of an individual notch in the analyzed range of depth. Several suggestions are also provided based on the present study.