Added Value of Chloride Measurement on Wharves from SHM: a Case Study of iMareco2 Project

Abstract

<p>With 80% of European trade exchange and a key role for European defense, harbours play a key socio- economic role. Inspection of wharves is very expensive due to the relative inaccessibility of components (need of a boat, team …) and the economical impact (service breakdown). Harbor concrete structures are designed to fulfill their function during a long time period (50 to 70 years). For RC structures exposed to marine environments, chloride-induced corrosion leads to deteriorations that can be associated to different exposure conditions: tidal, splash and atmospheric. The on-site assessment of the corrosion condition of the reinforcement in concrete relies on a corrosion diagnosis, which consists in different techniques and among them non destructive techniques (NDT )such as half-cell potential, resistivity and corrosion measurements. Thus the added value of SHM and accelerated tests in laboratory can be analyzed by comparing the maintenance with SHM with an optimized maintenance planning based on NDT.</p>