Cathodic Protection of the Concrete Piers of Two Bridges in Virginia Using a Water-Based Conductive Coating

Abstract

There is a need for a new anode for use in the impressed-current cathodic protection (CP) of inland concrete piers that are deteriorating because of salt-induced corrosion of rebars. In search of such an anode, a new water-based conductive coating was used recently on the cathodic protection of some concrete piers in Virginia. Further, as a possible means of eliminating the need for regular site visits to inspect and ensure that the CP is functioning properly (which is a disadvantage common to existing CP systems), a microprocessor-based data acquisition device that facilitates remote monitoring was tested with the system. This paper describes the design, the installation, and the performance of the CP system during its first year of operation.