HALF-CELL POTENTIOSTATIC STUDY OF REINFORCED CONCRETE IN MARINE ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

Corrosion of reinforcement in concrete affects the strength and durability of reinforced concrete structure. Monitoring and maintenance of concrete structure throughout the service life prevent the ingress of corrosion at the initial stage. Half-cell potential meter was developed and fabricated to monitor the corrosion potential of reinforcement in a concrete of M25 grade. Half-cell potential test and accelerated corrosion test was carried out in marine environment of 3.5% of NaCl solution. The potential behaviour of specimen subjected to accelerated corrosion is studied throughout the test period. The results were obtained in terms of current flow behaviour and weight loss. Obtained results were plotted graphically and the result comparison of accelerated corrosion test and half-cell potential test was done to know the rate of corrosion occurred in the specimen. Obtained results clearly show that when rate of accelerated corrosion increases the rate of potential difference obtained in half-cell potential also increases. Compression test was carried in both controlled specimen and in the specimen subjected to accelerated corrosion.