Electrical resistivity as microstructural parameter for the calculation of reinforcement service life

Abstract

There is an increasing interest in developing models for prediction of the service life regarding reinforcement corrosion. In present communication a proposal is made based on the electrical resistivity to calculate both the initiation and propagation periods as well as for predicting concrete aging related to durability and for measuring the efficiency of curing. The model is fundamented in that the Resistivity is a property depending on the concrete porous system and its degree of moisture, and then from its values in saturated conditions, it is possible to find relations between diffusivity and resistivity, then linking concrete microstructure and transport resistance.
The relation of resistivity and time is quantified through the square root law, either for chloride penetration as for carbonation. However some additional information is needed due to the reaction of chlorides and carbon dioxide with cement phases: the resistivity has to be factorised by a "reaction factor" accounting for it. Concerning the corrosion propagation period the relation between corrosion and resistivity is provided by an expression previously developed by one of the authors. Aging is introduced by measuring the evolution of the resistivity with time. The paper presents an example of application of the model. Finally it is mentioned that the concrete mix can be designed for a target resistivity and that this parameter can also be used as a performance parameter (Corrosion indicator). Being the measurement of resistivity a non destructive method, it can be as well used for on-site quality control.