Effects of stirrups on electrochemical chloride removal efficiency

• Published in: Construction & building materials Vol. 68; pp. 692 - 700
• Main Authors: Chang, C.C., Yeih, W., Chang, J.J., Huang, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 15-10-2014; Elsevier B.V
• Subjects: Analysis; Concrete; Corrosion; Electrochemical chloride removal; Electrodes; Mechanical properties; Steel; Stirrups; United States; Electrodes; Corrosion; Stirrups; Electrochemical chloride removal
• ISSN: 0950-0618
• DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2014.06.091

Chloride ions inside the cage did not move by the ECR process. [Display omitted]
•The existence of steel reinforce cage hinders the removal for chloride ions enclosed by it.•The electrochemical signals showed that after ECR the corrosion tended to be retarded.•The ECR may induce leaching of calcium ions inside concrete.
In this paper, how the stirrups influence the efficiency of electrochemical chloride removal (ECR) is studied. The chloride removal efficiency was investigated by examining the chloride contents in concrete. In addition, the electrochemical signals for corrosion status for the rebars were recorded and analyzed. While the stirrups existed and formed a connected electric path with rebars, due to the fact that the electric potential for the steel rebar cage remains the same everywhere on the rebar cage the chloride enclosed by the steel rebar cage was difficult to be removed no matter how the electrodes were arranged. Although the chloride ions enclosed by the rebar cage were not easy to be removed, the electrochemical signals showed that after ECR the corrosion tended to be retarded.