Monitoring reinforcement corrosion and corrosion-induced cracking using non-destructive x-ray attenuation measurements

To test the applicability of the x-ray attenuation method to monitor corrosion products as well as the formation and propagation of cracks in cementitious materials, reinforced mortar samples were tested under accelerated corrosion conditions. Experimental results demonstrate x-ray attenuation measurements can track time-dependent development of corrosion products and the subsequent initiation and propagation of corrosion-induced cracks. Also, x-ray attenuation measurements allowed determination of the actual concentration of the corrosion products averaged through the specimen thickness. The total mass loss of steel, obtained by the x-ray attenuation method, was found to be in very good agreement with the mass loss obtained by gravimetric method as well as Faraday's law. Results of the presented experimental approach provide pertinent information for the further development and verification of numerical tools simulating corrosion-induced damage in reinforced concrete.