Rebar Corrosion Under Simulated Concrete Conditions Using Galvanic Current Measurements

A galvanic current measurement method was developed as a rapid and simple technique to study the effect of chloride concentration, welding, and bending on the rebar corrosion in concrete. Some parameters that were responsible for the corrosion of rebar were identified by using the galvanic current measurement method and optical and scanning electron microscopy. Examination of corroded rebars collected from the field showed severe localized corrosion near grid-intersections, material defects and welded areas in concrete, and preferential corrosion attacks on certain micro-constituents of the rebar material. The corrosion behaviors of the field samples are discussed in the light of the galvanic current measurement results.