Abstract
A sacrificial anode cathodic protection system has been developed to provide corrosion protection to steel reinforced concrete pilings in marine environments at splash zone elevations. The system uses scrap perforated zinc sheets as the anode material. The zinc is tightly wrapped around the concrete piling, establishing a direct contact with the concrete electrolyte. The sheets are mechanically connected to the embedded reinforcing steel. The zinc sheets are firmly pressed against the concrete surface by four compression panels manufactured from wood-plastic recycled products. The experimental system was installed on two substructure piles at a bridge spanning the Intracoastal Waterway in Jacksonville, Florida. The system has been operational for a period of 156 days during which it has been evaluated using various techniques including; open and closed circuit potential measurements, E log I test analysis, current density measurements, polarization decay and others. The data and observations gathered during this period and the capability of the system to successfully deliver a direct current flow from the zinc onto the surface of the reinforcing steel embedded in the concrete has been recorded and analyzed. Upon evaluation, the data indicates the capability of the system to negatively polarize the reinforcing steel, thus eliminating the corrosion current flow from the anodic areas of the rebar by providing effective cathodic protection.
