Application of Patch Repair and Zinc Anode on RC Structures Damaged by Chloride Contamination – 3 Year Evaluation

Abstract

Combination of patch repair and cathodic protection methods was well-known as the most effective maintenance measure. This paper presented the experimental program and examined the effectivity of the intervention technique on damaged RC beams by using patching strategy and zinc anode. The electrochemical tests including potential monitoring and depolarization value were regularly measured until three years of application. The result showed that the investigation on the efficacy of a zinc anode in polarizing the potential of corroded rebar in a reinforced concrete (RC) component spanned a duration of three years. The phenomenon of high polarization is mostly observed in the vicinity of the anodes within the original concrete, whereas its occurrence in the patch repair section is constrained by intrinsic disparities in the material characteristics between the new material and the original substrat. The utilization of patch repair and zinc anode as a repair technique is deemed appropriate because the middle part may experience reduced protection as a result of patch material replacement. This is justified by the fact that the middle part already possesses a reasonably low susceptibility to corrosion.