Corrosion induced deterioration of prestressed concrete pilings in sea water has been established as the predominant failure mode for bridge structures in coastal Florida waters, and a technology involving localized impressed current cathodic protection of the splash zone region in association with conductive rubber anodes has been developed to mitigate this. In the present research a series of experiments involving simulated prestressed concrete piling specimens partially immersed in sea water while cathodically protected has been performed. Variables included 1) concrete mix design, 2) specimen cross section, 3) anode dimensions and 4) water level relative to the anode. An interactive aspect of cathodic protection operating parameters in association with water level was identified as important to avoid excessively negative potentials which might cause tendon embrittlement. An evaluation of the data was incitive with regard to the interrelationship between depolarization magnitude, potential and level of protection; and this was determined to be a function of moisture content within the concrete. The results are discussed within the context of prestressed concrete bridge piling cathodic protection.

Subject
Depolarization, Water, Anode potential, Cathodic protection, Cathodic potential, Tendons, Pilings, Negative potentials, Polarization, Chlorides, Corrosion potential, Concrete, Anodes
© 1994 Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP). All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of AMPP. Positions and opinions advanced in this work are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AMPP. Responsibility for the content of the work lies solely with the author(s).
1994
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
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