Project Title
Corrosion propagation monitoring legacy samples and forensic analysis on selected samples
Researcher
Francisco Presuel-Moreno
Project Description
In the past, most studies trying to understand corrosion of reinforcing steel, due to project duration limitations: usually terminate the tests shortly after corrosion initiates. In opposition thereto, some studies have been carried out to better understand the amount of corrosion products that cause cracks (typically in concrete with no supplementary cementitious materials), used methodologies to accelerate corrosion of the reinforcing steel. But, corrosion products built up from accelerated approaches might deviate significantly from the built up that take place under natural corroding (or moderately accelerated) cases.
Legacy samples exposed outdoors for 27 years and indoor samples prepared in 2016 (binary and ternary concrete mixes) will be used to investigate corrosion propagation. For outdoor samples, it is known that a number of rebars are corroding and several samples now display cracks. Similarly, the rebar of several indoor samples are corroding. Monitoring the propagation stage for a long period of time is relevant. TriDurLE Year 1 funded the monitoring of legacy samples. Year 2 will allow to continue monitoring and to assess corrosion extent on selected samples that will be terminated (forensic analysis). If possible, the chloride concentration at the rebar depth will be determined on terminated samples. In addition, the steel bars will be cleaned and the corrosion morphology examined. The maximum corrosion pit depth will be measured and the cross sectional loss of steel bars will also be estimated.
