Abstract
Impressed current cathodic protection (ICCP) is an effective and direct method for controlling the corrosion of reinforced concrete (RC) structures. However, few investigations related to ICCP in cracked RC structures have been reported. In this study, the effect of cracks in concrete cover on ICCP of chloride-contaminated RC structures was investigated through a numerical model including steel polarisation, electrode reactions, and ionic migration. In the developed numerical model, cracked concrete cover is assumed to consist of sound concrete and cracks, and cracks have their own ionic diffusion coefficients. The results indicate that the ICCP can maintain its ability to remove Cl− if concrete cover does not completely crack. Once the complete cracking in concrete cover occurs, the Cl− removal ability of ICCP would decrease or even disappear. Cracking does not cause any adverse effect on the pH improvement of ICCP. In this case, a stronger cathodic polarisation is recommended.
Highlights
The corrosion of reinforcing steel induced by chloride attack or carbonation is a primary cause of the degradation in the durability of reinforced concrete (RC) structures [1,2,3]
The corrosion control effects of impressed current cathodic protection (ICCP) in given RC structures are determined by the size of the output voltage, which will be predicted via the numerical model
A numerical model including steel polarisation, electrode reactions and ionic migration was developed to investigate the ICCP of sound and cracked RC structures
Summary
The corrosion of reinforcing steel induced by chloride attack or carbonation is a primary cause of the degradation in the durability of reinforced concrete (RC) structures [1,2,3]. CP, including impressed current cathodic protection (ICCP) and sacrificial anode cathodic protection (SACP), has been demonstrated to be an effective and direct electrochemical method for preventing the corrosion of RC structures [5]. In this method, an electric field is applied to the RC structure, and the reinforcing steel works as a cathode and is polarized [6]. ICCP is suitable for large RC structures with severe corrosion and long life expectancy while SACP is suitable for RC structures with targeted repairs and short life expectancy [9]
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