We were among the first to report the excessive corrosion of steel piles supporting highway structures. Cross-sectional losses between 35% and 65% were measured. This paper describes these and other case histories of pile corrosion together with theoretical and experimental tests. Pile corrosion is the result of macrocell activity along the pile surface. This occurs when piles pass through water saturated/unsaturated soil layers. This results in differential oxygen concentrations and, rapid localized corrosion. Factors which influence this effect are also discussed together with methods to avoid this type of corrosion.

Subject
Steel structures, Water tables, Water, Sand, Pilings, Soil resistivity, Corrosion attacks, Corrosion losses, Steel, Oxygen, Piles, Corrosion resistance, Soil
Keywords:
steel piles, bridge structures, underground corrosion, soil corrosion, macrocell corrosion, oxygen concentration cells, differential aeration
© 1995 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).
1995
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
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