Effects of stirrups on electrochemical chloride removal efficiency

Abstract

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. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.