Corrosion damage diagnosis of a reinforced concrete beam after 40 years natural exposure in marine environment

A detailed investigation of the chloride induced corrosion damage was performed on a 40 years old reinforced concrete beam exposed in marine environment. Visual observations, electrochemical measurements, carbonation depth, total chloride content were carried out. Half-cell potential measurements were used to locate corrosion areas. It appeared that the interpretation based on gradient of the potential was in good concordance with real state of damage. Complementary destructive methods are applied to observe the real corrosion state of steel rebars and characterize the corrosion products and the steel/concrete interface (optical and electronical microscopy tools (XRD, SEM, EDS and μ-Raman).All these data indicate that on the beam, one may distinguish two types of areas: “high-corrosion zones” and “low-corrosion zones.” Given the fact that the “high corrosion zones” were found to be close to corrosion induced cracks and that they have a different morphology, this contribution concludes that the position of these areas did not shift in time.