Predicting corrosion in reinforced concrete: the key to extending the lifespan of our infrastructure.
As part of the Auscultation System on bridges and viaducts built by the company Socotec Spain to better understand their condition and evolution, with regard to corrosion, the latest generation CORROCHIP sensors have been installed, designed to measure in a reliable, precise and permanent way (the only sensors whose electrodes are built based on the same construction materials, steel and cement), possible corrosion processes that take place in more than 30 key points of the three viaducts of El Castro (León).
Corrosion, especially in viaducts, is one of the most critical structural problems, which can have serious consequences for both safety and economics. With CORROCHIP, we can monitor steel cross-section loss, which is extremely important because such loss reduces load-bearing capacity and can cause cracks, detachment, or partial collapse. We also monitor the rate of corrosion progression, as well as other qualitative and quantitative parameters.
Repairing corroded elements is often very costly and difficult if corrosion is not detected early. Let’s not forget that corrosion accelerates degradation due to thermal cycles, humidity, and carbonation. Therefore, with CORROCHIP, we can monitor it and drastically extend its useful life. This monitoring will be integrated into the CELOSÍA platform, owned by the General Directorate of Roads.
Thanks to monitoring and prediction technologies, it is now possible to continuously assess the condition of reinforced concrete and predict the progression of corrosion before it causes irreversible damage.
With all this, CORROCHIP is already collaborating in compliance with Circular Order 2/2021 on the monitoring platform for the structures of the State Road Network.
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Image: © Diario de León.