Saudi Journal of Engineering and Technology (SJEAT)
Volume-6 | Issue-08 | 290-306
Original Research Article
Electrochemical Techniques Assessment of Chloride Threshold for Reinforcing Steel Corrosion in Concrete Structures
Kelechi Okwulehie, Kpegara Saana N, Charles Kennedy
Published : Aug. 30, 2021
Abstract
Corrosion of steel reinforcement in reinforced concrete is one of the most significant problems affecting structures and infrastructure worldwide, especially coastal structures. This study investigated the direct application of exudates/resin extract of Lannea coromandelica as a potential inhibitive material to control and prevent the corrosion of steel bars embedded in concrete structures and exposed to high salinity and acidic prone environments. The extruded exudates / resin is extracted from the tree and layered to reinforcing steel of different thicknesses. The hardened concrete slab is completely immersed in a 5% sodium chloride (NaCl) aqueous solution for 360 days with routinely checks, monitors and tested for 90 days, 180 days, 270 days, and 360 days of accelerated and corrosion process for comparative evaluation of both uncoated and coated samples. The maximum corrosion potential yields from the controlled and coated samples were -109.24mV and -114.16mV, indicating the relationship between corrosion potential and corrosion probability in the reference range 𝐸corr > −200mV. For non-coated samples, the calculated maximum value is -333.97mV, the result is within the reference value of the relationship between corrosion potential and corrosion probability of −350mV ≤ 𝐸corr ≤ −200mV indicates a high value range of 10% or less. The maximum calculated value of the controlled sample concrete resistance is 138.35% compared to the corroded and coated values of -56.56% and 153.43% and the maximum value of the control percentile difference is 24.97% compared to the corroded and coated value of 3.98% and 23.22%. The results of the controlled and layered concrete resistance samples obtained a maximum average value of 15.01kΩcm and 16.17kΩcm with a value of 10 < 𝜌 < 20 (low) compared to a corrosion value of 7.01kΩcm with a specification of 5 < 𝜌 < 10 (high) and with a reference range of the relationship between concrete resistance and corrosion probability and significant corrosion probability. The maximum computed percentile values of yield strength of controlled are 9.42% against corrode and coated values -8.03% and 9.57% respectively and the potential differential values of 0.71% controlled 0.71% corroded and 0.84% coated. The maximum computed percentile values of ultimate tensile strength of controlled are 1.68% against corrode and coated values -2.98% and 3.07% respectively and the potential differential values of 0.01% controlled, 0.00%% corroded, and 0.01% coated. Comparatively, the results of corroded samples showed reduction and decreased values in comparison of rebar diameter before and after induced accelerated corrosion test with values reduction percentile range from 0.038% to -0.895% and average ranges values from 11.98mm to 11.93mm. The reduction in average and percentile values showed that corrosion effects caused diameter reduction and cross-sectional area, fibre degradation, ribs reduction, and surface modifications whereas, exudates/resin coated members showed volumetric increase resulting from varying coating thicknesses. Conclusion: Summarized results showed that the effect of corrosion caused weight reduction/decreased in corroded samples as compared to coated with an exhibition of percentile and average value increase resulting in a volumetric minute increase from coating thicknesses.