Monitoring of steel corrosion in concrete by electrode arrays and electrical resistance probes

In the present work two relatively new methods were implemented, in order to follow exactly the time and spatial evolution of steel corrosion in concrete. Measuring with a coupled electrode array is by some means the advancement of electrochemical noise (EN) with electrically connected micro-electrodes, which are spatially arranged, the assessment of anodic and cathodic currents distribution in time is possible. An electrical resistance (ER) probe can provide general corrosion rate, which is calculated from the thickness reduction; however, its response to localize corrosion is limited. The measurements were performed in concrete specimens, which were exposed to periodic wetting and drying cycles. The results of both used methods were compared and related to the conditions of the micro-electrodes and the ER probes after the test was finished. It was found that micro-electrode arrays can monitor the time and spatial evolution of steel corrosion in concrete. The measured currents reliable indicate the temporal anodic and cathodic activities of individual electrodes, and the assessment of general corrosion rates is also possible. Two characteristic fluctuations of the measured currents from the micro-electrode arrays were defined: slower fluctuations and shorter transients. It is believed that the slower fluctuations were generated by rather general corrosion of the electrodes, whereas the shorter transients were very probably generated by the initiation of pits. In accordance with the results of our previous study, it was confirmed that electrical resistance probes (ER) are able to measure reliably the cumulative corrosion damage, as well as the average general corrosion rate. The general corrosion rates obtained by using ER probes were generally slightly higher than those estimated from the measured currents. It should be mentioned that due to the relatively short duration of the experiments, the reliability of the methods for long-term practical applications still needs to be assessed.