Half-Cell Potential Measurements for Condition Assessment

Publication LJF02

Authors

Albrecht Lentz, Tina H. Johnsen and Michael H. Faber

Abstract

The present paper considers the probabilistic modeling of the quality of half-cell potential measurements. The study is based on a large number of half-cell potential measurements performed on Danish and Swiss highway bridges. In addition to the potential readings uncovering the reinforcement following the measurements has revealed the real condition of the reinforcement and thus facilitates that the measured potentials are correlated with the real condition of the reinforcement. On this basis corresponding to different types of structural components, concrete mixes and exposure conditions the conditional probability density functions of the measured half-cell potential have been established for the situation where corrosion is present and for the situation where corrosion is not present. Taking basis in the established conditional probability density functions it is shown how the choice of the critical potential reading indicating initiated corrosion affects the condition assessment and thus also has implications for inspection and maintenance planning. Finally it is shown how the optimal choice of the critical potential reading may be formulated as a decision problem integrated with the decision problem of inspection and maintenance decision-planning problem. .

Published in/by

Proceedings IABMAS'02, 1st International Conference on 'Bridge Maintenance, Safety and Management', eds. J.R. Casas, D.M. Frangopol and A.S. Nowak, Barcelona, Spain, July 14-17, 2002, pp. 365-366.