Sensitivity Analysis of Zinc Dose-response Function according to Actual Standard Approach

Abstract

One of the reasons for the decrease in reliability of constructions is the corrosion of carbon steel. Many members are made from carbon steel as embedded reinforcement in reinforced concrete (RC) members, steel structures, steel bearings, barriers, rails, etc. These members from carbon steel can be protected by zinc coating. In these cases, the zinc coating layer provides the passive stage during which the steel does not corrode. Therefore, the first-year corrosion rate, as well as the speed of the corrosion during many years, is a very significant parameter for determination of the decreasing the reliability of structure in time. The determination of the corrosivity of the atmosphere can be either on specimens exposed under outdoor conditions or by calculation, according to so-called dose-response function, based on environmental information observed from the public´s hydrometeorological institutes. The paper is focused on sensitivity analysis of zinc dose-response function rcorr,ZN in the range of input parameter recommended either in the standard STN EN ISO 9223 or in the range of measurement by Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute – SHMI.