Application of wavelet transform techniques for corrosion assessment of embedded rebars in RC elements using electromechanical impedance

Abstract

Corrosion of steel reinforcement embedded in concrete significantly influences the integrity and durability attributes of reinforced concrete structures. Monitoring of the early age corrosion of the reinforcements can contribute to an effective planning of structural maintenance and restoration. This paper demonstrates an innovative approach of monitoring the rate of corrosion (mass loss due to corrosion) of steel bars embedded in concrete by capturing conductance signature using Piezoelectric sensors (PZT) by Electromechanical Impedance Technique. In the recent times Wavelet Transform (WT) based different techniques have been proved to be promising techniques for different structural health monitoring assessment. This study aims to comprehensively use the WT techniques based on EMI signals to assess the corrosion levels in the reinforcement embedded in RC members. Specifically, the study focuses on capturing the progression of corrosion levels using the RMSD index derived from the DWT, CWT and WPT analysis of conductance signatures. WT techniques provides energy values of conductance signatures. Energy level of the signatures decreases with the increase of corrosion levels and deviation of energy level between current and pristine stage is measured using statistical index Root Mean Square Deviation (RMSD). Robust relationship between the RMSD index and the corrosion mass loss ratio through nonlinear curve fitting have been derived and presented using data captured from the 48 specimens of concrete cylinders with embedded reinforcement. At last, the comparison between the actual mass loss ratio and the predicted mass loss ratio derived from these techniques have been made for the validation of the proposed relation of predicted mass loss due to corrosion.