Space Averaging of Electric Field accompanying Corrosion of Reinforcement and its Verification by Pseudo-Concrete

Abstract

This paper aims to verify a space-averaged electric filed simulation, where the whole surfaces of reinforcing bars are blended into the 3D finite volume for identifying the electric potential to drive the macro-cell corrosion of structural concrete. Experimental verification is conducted with transparent pseudo-concrete, which has chemical pore-solutions similar to those of concrete, and with which the location of anodic poles accompanying brownish rusts and the cathodic ones surrounded by hydrogen bubbles may be visually identified. The proposed electro-chemical analysis platform to be integrated with ion transport and equilibrium is adopted for full consistency with dispersed reinforcing bars. Global macro-cell corrosions of tunnel mockup and reinforcement layers induced by electric current leakage are verified quantitatively with dispersed multi-ion concentration as well as corrosion profile.