Protection of the opposite reinforcement layer of RC‐structures by CP – results of numerical simulations

Abstract

AbstractIf cathodic protection (CP) is applied to reinforced concrete structures the anode is usually attached at the concrete surface closest to the corroding reinforcement in order to minimise voltage and protection current that is required. In specific circumstances an anode installation at the concrete surface next to the corroding reinforcement is not practicable, i.e. due to difficult access. In such cases it would be helpful to know whether it is possible to protect the reinforcement by an anode being installed at the opposite surface of the structural element. The question is: does the second reinforcement layer obtain sufficient current to be effectively protected? Since a general answer to this question is not possible because the distribution of protection current depends on several parameters like the geometry and amount of the reinforcement, concrete resistivity, the polarisation behaviour and geometry of corroding and passive zones, a 3 D‐FEM model of the current and potential distribution was developed and its accuracy was verified by laboratory results. This paper presents the model itself as well as the results of parameter studies carried out to show the impact of the reinforcement distribution, the concrete resistivity and the polarisation behaviour of the reinforcement on the current distribution within the reinforcement.