Assessment of the Impact of Atmospheric Corrosivity on the Cement Concrete Airfield Pavement’s Operation Process

Abstract

The aim of this research is to assess corrosion in natural atmospheric conditions, based on exposure of material samples and periodic monitoring, and to determine the size of corrosion losses, their form and appearance, as well as changes in physical properties at regular time intervals. Atmospheric corrosion tests were ultimately carried out in order to determine the corrosion resistance of a cement concrete airfield pavement, as well as to assess the type of corrosion and research data in order to determine and estimate the corrosivity of the atmosphere. Atmospheric corrosivity is one of the parameters characterizing the technical condition of airfield pavement functional elements; it makes it possible to estimate a suitable frequency of airfield periodic inspections. Assessments of concrete corrosion and atmospheric corrosivity enable appropriate countermeasures to be taken in order to maintain the airport functional elements in a constant state of technical readiness. In the following study, the prepared samples were exposed to atmospheric conditions in designated places located at selected military airport facilities. Corrosion samples in the form of 50 mm × 100 mm standard samples, 1 mm to 3 mm in thickness, were placed on special frames located within fenced corrosion stations. The corrosion rate rcorr of a specific metal, expressed as a corrosion loss, depends on the environmental conditions. This article presents an atmosphere corrosivity category assessment for low-carbon steel, zinc, copper and aluminum reference samples, taking into account weight or thickness loss after one year of exposure.