Cathodic protection design which considered environmental improvement of rebar surface in reinforced concrete structure

We investigated a cathodic protection design basis for reinforced concrete structures exposed to atmospheric conditions. If such structures in severely corrosive environments do not satisfy the relevant cathodic protection criteria, the situation can be remedied by supplying more current than the design value. However, as such energization results in rapid consumption of the water surrounding the anode, the voltage DC power supply may rise. Using electrochemical measurement and numerical simulation, we sought to clarify the effects resulting from environmental improvement of rebar surfaces using cathodic protection and devised a new design method. Then, via cathodic protection examination using concrete specimens affected by rebar corrosion, the validity of the new design method was determined. The approach was found to be suitable for economical and stable cathodic protection.