Abstract
Since the early 1980’s cathodic protection technology has been increasingly applied to reinforced concrete structures. Various anode materials in various configurations have been used. In this study an effort was made to document the long-term field performance of nineteen impressed current systems installed on fourteen bridge structures and one tunnel located in ten states of the United States of America and one Province of Canada over a period of five years. The cathodic protection systems evaluated in this study utilized zinc, titanium with mixed metal oxide coating, conductive coating, conductive polymer, and coke asphalt based anode materials. These systems were installed on bridge decks, super and substructure elements of bridge structures and a deck of a tunnel in various environmental conditions. At the end of the study the age of the systems varied from thirteen months to twelve years. As the ability of the cathodic protection system to stop corrosion is well established, the focus of this effort was to ascertain the effectiveness of each anode material and configuration to serve as a cathodic protection anode on reinforced concrete structures. This paper documents the findings of this study.
