Corrosion in Concrete Structures

Session Overview: 

Corrosion of embedded metals is recognized as one of the primary degradation mechanisms of reinforced concrete structures and can result in decreased strength and integrity, increased maintenance costs, reduced lifespan, and environmental and safety risks. The state of the art of corrosion protection diagnostics, technologies and products has significantly advanced during the last several decades and many reliable options are now available to define, prevent, or mitigate the progression of corrosion once it has initiated. In this presentation, we will address the effect that corrosion has on our concrete infrastructure, including buildings, bridges, sea walls, cooling towers, docks, and many other reinforced concrete structures. The process of corrosion of steel in concrete will be discussed, including initiation, propagation, and failure stages. Conventional countermeasures and available techniques for corrosion avoidance, mitigation and protection will be presented. Finally, an engineered approach to discovering the root cause and selecting an optimum countermeasure will be presented, including case histories where various techniques have been employed.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand Corrosion and its impact on the constructed infrastructure.
2. Identify safety, service life and financial impacts caused by Corrosion.
3. Discuss the relationship between pH, carbon dioxide and chlorides and the corrosion rate.
4. Gain an appreciation of the corrosion cycle and learn how to best prevent and mitigate corrosion with counter measures.