Title: Nondestructive Method of Detecting Steel Corrosion in Concrete

Author(s): H. Tamura and M. Yoshida

Publication: Symposium Paper

Volume: 82

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 689-702

Keywords: corrosion; electrical resistance; electrolytes; electron probes; nondestructive tests; polarization; reinforcing steels.

DOI: 10.14359/6580

Date: 9/1/1984

Abstract:
This paper presents a new non-destructive detecting method of corrosion of reinforcing steel in concrete. The state of corrosion of steel can be electrochemically estimated by using not only natural potential, but also polarization and electrolyte resistance. These three kinds of electrochemical values can be measured with a polarization resistance meter and a two-electrode probe set on the surface of concrete above any measuring point of steel. These values obtained from the surface of concrete are only apparent, being composed of the values in both anodic and cathodic sites. The authors therefore analysed the relationship between the measured apparent values and real values in an equivalent electric circuit reflecting the corrosion phenomenon in concrete, Furthermore, the relationship among the various kinds of electro-chemical characteristics was evaluated by a numerical study. In-situ application of the new non-destructive method is also presented.