Method to determine electrochemical potential gradients without reinforcement connection in concrete structures

A suitable condition assessment of a structure is usually based on comprehensive non-destructive measurements to locate the relevant critical areas. Electrochemical potential mapping is an approved method to detect areas with a high risk of chloride induced corrosion in concrete structures. A novel approach has been developed to locate critical areas without a reinforcement connection by using three external electrodes. As result a vector is calculated which points directly to the critical area near the sensor position, comparable with a compass. This method allows an immediate identification of critical areas on site. In this paper the methodology is explained and measuring results are compared to the conventional method. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.