CONCERTO: CONCRETE
Successful field measurement in reinforced concrete structures pose a number of challenges to the system designer. The electrochemistry of the environment can change dramatically over the life of the structure, but very little may happen for decades. Corrosion and condition monitoring systems are often installed as a verification of construction quality, as an indicator of system health, and as an early warning for future cathodic protection. The measurement probes are inaccessible once installed yet have to respond to change when needed; instrumentation may have to be located remote from the probe yet maintain sensitivity and noise rejection.
The Concerto RCC measurement systems are designed to accommodate the different challenges of the concrete environment without compromising on sensitivity, resolution or robustness. The measurement systems are matched to a range of measurement probes for permanent burial in concrete; probes that can be installed prior to concrete placement or retrofitted to existing structures. The Concerto probes measure environmental parameters such as concrete resistivity, relative humidity and temperature in addition to the electrochemical parameters essential to the corrosion process.
Probes can be provided with multiple sensing elements, located to measure the advancing degradation in the cover concrete, or to measure at different reinforcement depths in a structure.
Application
The current probe designs have evolved from an 18 year track record of successful installation. Concerto RCC provides a variety of options for monitoring the rate of corrosion in reinforced concrete structures including underground rail tunnels, nuclear waste storage facilities and reinforced concrete piers, column heads and bridge decks.
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