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CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION
2. CORROSION PROCESS
3. TESTING OF CORROSION
4. CONCLUSION
INTRODUCTION
Corrosion of the rebars is the main cause of damage and early failure of
reinforced concrete structures with enormous costs for maintenance,
restoration and replacement worldwide. Maintenance and planning of the
restoration of these structures as well as quality control needs a rapid, nondestructive inspection technique that detects corrosion of the rebars at an
early stage, defines adequately which areas of structures require repair and
provide a measure of the corrosion rate.
DEFINITION
ASCE defines corrosion as the chemical or electrochemical
reaction between a material, Usually a metal, and its
environment that produces a deterioration of the material and
its properties.
For steel embedded in concrete ,corrosion results in the
formation of rust which has two to four times the volume of the
original steel and none of the good mechanical properties.
Corrosion also produces pits or holes in surface of reinforcing
steel, reducing strength capacity as a result of the reduced
cross-sectional area.
THEORY OF CORROSION
Steel reinforcement bars are protected by alkaline environment (passivity)
provided by the pore fluid in hardened concrete.
Corrosion starts when passivation is broken down by : carbonation or ingress
of chlorides.
Corrosion is either localized or generalized form (generalized form is most
disruptive due to expansion of rusting steel.
CORROSION MECHANISM
FACTORS
The degree of depassivation of the steel;
The setting up of corrosion macro cells by differential absorption of oxygen &
chlorides in variable quality concrete;
The lowering of the resistivity of the concrete by water & chlorides down to 5000
ohm.cm or less;
The availability of oxygen to fuel the corrosion process.
CORROSION DAMAGE
3.Resistivity Measurement
4.Permeability
Assessment of in-situ
permeability of concrete due to
water and air
5.Initial Surface
Sl.No.
1.
Test Results
Interpretations
quality concrete
2.
Corrosion prone
Corrosion prone
Half-Cell Potential
The measurement consists of giving an electrical connection to the rebar and observing
the voltage difference between the bar and a reference electrode in contact with
concrete surface. (Fig. 1. (a)) Generally the voltage potential becomes more and more
negative as the corrosion becomes more and more active. However less negative
potential values may also indicate the presence of corrosion activity, if the pH values are
less.
The general guidelines for identifying the probability of corrosion based on half-cell potential values
Half Cell Potential Reading Range
Electrode
>95 percent
More negative
than 700 mV
50 percent
- 200 to - 350 mV
- 500 to - 700 mV
<5 percent
200 mV
500 mV
Resistivity Measurement
Resistivity Mapping
The electrical resistance of concrete plays an important role in determining the quality
of concrete from the point of view corrosion susceptibility potential at any specific
location. This parameter is expressed in terms of Resistivity in ohm-cm.
For general monitoring, a resistivity check is important because long-term corrosion
can be anticipated in concrete structures where accurately measured values are
below 10000 ohm-cm. further if resistivity values fall below 5000 ohm-cm, corrosion
must be anticipated at a much earlier period (possibly within 5 years) in the life of a
structure. Table 2 indicates the general guidelines of resistivity values based on which
areas having probable corrosion risk can be identified in concrete structures
Resistivity ohm cm.
Corrosion Probability
Negligible Low
10,000 20,000
High
5,000- 10,000
Very High
Resistivity meter
Sl.No.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Test Results
High resistivity greater than 10,000 ohm - cm
and low potentials more positive than
200 mV (CSE)
Low resistivity below 10,000 ohm cm and
potentials between 200 m V to -350 mV
(CSE)
Low resistivity about 5,000 ohm cm and
potential 200 mV to -350 mV (CSE)
Low resistivity below 5,000 ohm cm and
potential more negative than 350 mV (CSE)
Interpretations
No active corrosionrelatively cathodic
Initiation of corrosion
activity relatively
anodic
Presence of corrosion
activity anodic
High intensity of
corrosion fully
anodic
PREVENTION OF CORROSION
METHODS
1.Material selection
2.Improvements in material
3.Alteration of environment
4.Cathode and anodic protection
5. Coating
CONCLUSIONS
- MANY METHODS ARE AVAILABLE TO
PREVENT/MITIGATE CORROSION
- ONE OR A NUMBER OF METHODS MAY BE USED
SIMULTANEOUSLY FOR EFFECTIVE PROTECTION
- PROPER SELECTION OF METHODS IS ESSENTIAL FOR
OPTIMIZING COST