Medida de la velocidad de corrosión de las armaduras en estructuras de hormigón, mediante un equipo desarrollado dentro del proyecto Eureka EU-401

On site corrosion rate measurements in concrete structuers using a device developed under Eureka Project EU-401

The linear polarization technique has been used in laboratory for corrosion rate measurements of reinforcing bars in concrete but some modifications are needed for its application to structures in the field. That is why the research project EUREKA EU-401 was started at the end of 1989 to develop techniques to be applied in concrete structures. This project was finished in December 1992, and a corrosion rate meter was developed by GEOCISA, CENIM and ICCET (CSIC), with the participation of CBI of Sweden. This device uses the polarization resistance technique with a sensor controlled guard ring to measure corrosion rate in concrete structures. This device also allows the measurement of the corrosion potential, concrete resistivity, and temerature and R.H. of the ambient. This paper describes the performance of this device and su,,arizes the results obtained by the authors in concrete structures affected by carbonation or chlorides attack. Some comments are also included to relate the electrochemical parameters obtained by the device and the observed deterioration in the structures.