Corrosion Behavior of Reinforcing Steel in the Immersed Tube Tunnel (ITT) under Submarine Environment

Abstract

The corrosion behavior of reinforcing steel in the ITT under a submarine environment was investigated. Electrochemical tests were carried out to separately determine the linear polarization curves and the AC impedance spectra of rebars in the ITT scaled-down models subjected to pressurized seawater erosion, from which key parameters were obtained, including the self-corrosion potential (Ecorr), corrosion current density (icorr), polarization resistance (Rp), concrete resistance (Rc), and charge migration resistance (Rct). The results show that in the process of pressurized seawater erosion, the rebars on the seawater side of the ITT models corroded earlier than the rebars on the cavity side, and it is recommended that anti-chloride ion penetration measures be taken on the surface of the seawater side as a priority in the project. The corrosion rate of rebars on the seawater side was significantly higher than that on the cavity side, and the corrosion rate of rebars on the cavity side increased as the erosion time increased. The corrosion rate of rebars in the ITT models was affected by chloride ions to a greater extent than by oxygen. Furthermore, by regression equation, a linear function between Rp obtained from the polarization curves and Rct obtained from the AC impedance spectra was established.