Corrosion is an unavoidable problem for RC structures in harsh marine environment, which encourages the application of high-performance concrete (HPC) and corrosion-resistant reinforcements, such as stainless steel (SS), stainless-clad bimetallic steel (SB) and FRP. Especially, for the RC structures in remote islands or reefs, the use of local materials (coral, sea water, etc.) may bring cost benefits by avoiding the high expansive fee. In this paper, the cost effectiveness of five different material proposals is evaluated and compared based on the life-cycle-cost analysis (LCCA), incorporating not only initial cost but also long-term investment into account. The LCCA results of a 3-floor office building in the South China Sea shows that basically the SB + HPC proposal shows the highest cost benefits considering a 100-year period while the proposals using coral aggregate seawater concrete (CASC) are not that competitive. The sensitivity analysis is performed to address the influence of discount rate and construction-to-material cost ratio.

Coated reinforcements are expected to improve the performance of reinforced concrete in aggressive environments, but different kinds of coated reinforcements can express a variety of properties, which can confuse researchers and engineers. This paper reviews the manufacture, corrosion mechanisms, behaviors, and applications of popular or promising coated reinforcements, incorporating galvanized reinforcements (GRs), epoxy coated reinforcements (ECRs), stainless cladding reinforcements (SCRs), and steel-fiber reinforced polymer composite bars (SFCBs). In terms of manufacture, GRs and ECRs should focus on minimizing the negative effect of manufacture on performance, while SCRs and SFCBs should reduce the cost and increase the production capacity. Behaviors of GRs and ECRs are primarily determined by the steel substrate, but the behaviors of SCRs and SFCBs are primarily affected by the coat and core, and their interaction. The corrosion mechanism of GRs and SCRs is about oxidation, while that of SFCBs is about hydrolysis. ECRs are usually corroded under film, which can be a cause of premature failure. Corrosion embrittles SCRs, as well as bare bars, but corrosion of SFCBs usually causes a reduction in maximum strength. The investigation of the corrosion behaviors of GRs and ECRs focuses on bond strength. GRs have controversial performance. ECRs have been proven to have drawbacks regarding bond strength. The use of anti-corrosion reinforcement is uneven in regions, which may correlate with the development of technology and the economy.

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