Corrosion kinetics

This study used a 3-D transport model to analyze corrosion in an old arch bridge’s reinforcement under carbonation and chloride attack, factoring in realistic microclimates. Field data on oxygen, moisture, chloride, and carbonation levels informed the analysis. Findings show varying corrosion rates due to environmental factors, highlighting the need for diverse maintenance strategies according to climate scenarios.

This comprehensive corrosion model solves the evolution of the non-uniform microenvironment in cracked reinforced concrete and utilizes the environment-dependent homogenized corrosion kinetics to describe the electrochemical reaction on the rebar-concrete interface and solves for the potential and current fields. It explained the complex effects of cracks on corrosion, including corrosion reduction over time, crack size and healing effects.