Cover zone properties influencing acoustic emission due to corrosion

The deterioration of reinforced concrete is a serviceability problem worldwide. The cover zone plays an important role in the durability and serviceability of concrete and provides the initial barrier to aggressive species. The research presented investigates the potential of acoustic emission (AE) as a means of identifying corrosion at an early stage, before any significant cover damage has occurred. The purpose of part of the study was to identify the influential cover zone factors that affect the magnitude of the AE measurements per gram of steel loss. Prisms with various combinations of strength, cover thickness, aggregate and rebar diameters were studied to ascertain the important variables likely to be encountered on reinforced structures. The experimental results confirmed that early corrosion, verified by internal visual inspection and mass loss, can be detected by AE and before any external signs of cracking. They also show that the most influential parameter affecting the AE measurement is concrete strength, being exponentially related to the AE energy. Material properties, such as cover thickness, had a negligible effect on AE energy during the initial stages of reinforcement corrosion, whereas from this initial work, the rebar diameter indicated a promising relationship with AE energy per gram of steel loss.