Remote Measurement of Linear Polarization Resistance In Concrete Structures
ABSTRACTThe monitoring of corrosion in reinforced concrete structures is considered an important preventive factor against the corrosive damage. The present paper shows the design and construction of a device which performs remote measurements of the polarization resistance of reinforcing steel, this was made using the electrochemical technique of linear polarization resistance as a method to obtain the information of the corrosive process. The development was carried out by implementing a potentiostat based on a free development platform. The design allows to store all the data on a physical memory and to send the results through the mobile network to a web server, where the measured values can be analyzed using an internet connection.The linear polarization resistance measurements were made in cylindrical concrete specimens with rebars of ½ ”, each one instrumented with embedded electrodes of Copper/Copper sulfate and graphite. The specimens were subjected to a saturated environment of chlorides (3.5%) where the corrosive process was monitored with the developed system. The results were compared with tests performed on a commercial potentiostat / galvanostat, where the values obtained have an mean of 4.83%.