Influence of the reference electrode position on the intensity corrosion measurements in reinforced concrete

Abstract

[EN] Corrosion of the steel embedded in reinforced concrete is one the biggest problems that affects concrete structures durability. High alkalinity of this material protects the steel creating a passive layer, which chloride penetration or concrete carbonation destroy. In favourable conditions, as high humidity or oxygen presence, once the passive layer has been destroyed, active corrosion of the steel promotes loss of profile and reduces the adherence. The damage can be appreciated outside the elements once it is really advanced. Using methods to detect the beginning of active corrosion and control the damage can be a helpful tool to avoid expensive repairs after a late detection of the phenomena [1]. Including a sensor network in structures will let monitor the corrosion processes inside them. Voltammetric analysis using sensors requires a counter electrode (CE) and a reference electrode (RE). Due to economic issues and maintenance, most times it is just one reference embedded. This fact generates a large distance between the reference electrode and some sensors, incurring a wrong analysed values lecture. The aim of this paper is analysing the influence of the distance between sensors and the reference electrodes to get several measures which can let us arrange a statistic reliability. In this case, an external reference electrode will be used, letting move it, for measure at different distances from the sensor. For that purpose, in this studio will be used the voltammetric method, developed by Alcañiz et Al [2].