Seminar on Engineering Mathematica

© 2008 Engineering Mathematics Group

Editors: Azami Zaharim et al.

BOUNDARY ELEMENT METHOD: AN APPLICATION TO EVALUATE

THE POTENTIAL ON REINFORCED CONCRETE

Syarizal F.1, Safuadi1, A.K. Ariffin1, M. Ridha2, A.R. Daud3 and N.F.L. Ramli.1
1
Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600
Selangor DE, Malaysia
2
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Syiah Kuala University, Darussalam
Banda Aceh Indonesia
3
Schools of Studies Physics
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
Bangi 43600 Selangor DE, Malaysia

ABSTRACT

The diagnosing of reinforced concrete corrosion structure using potential

mapping technique has been extensively used in the field. However, the method
still has limitation that is less accuracy to identify the corrosion of steel in
concrete. The aim of this study is to apply the boundary element method to
analysize the influence of some factors such as the concrete conductivity, the
thickness of concrete cover and the corrosion size to the potential reading on the
concrete surface. The potential in concrete domain is modelled using Laplace’s
equation. Boundary element method was applied to solve the Laplace’s equation
to obtain any potential in the whole surface concrete domain. To simulate the
influence of some factors to the potential value on the concrete surface, a model
of prismatic concrete block with embedded steel was used. A small-corroded area
was existed on the steel. The numerical analysis result shows that the potential
values on the concrete surface are subject to change when the factors such as the
concrete conductivity, the concrete cover depth and the corrosion size were
changed.

Keywords: potential; reinforced concrete corrosion; corrosion monitoring; BEM

INTRODUCTION

It is important to detect corrosion of the steels in concrete structure since the

corrosion of steels in concrete is a major cause of premature deteriorations and
failures of the reinforced concrete structures. Also it is important to maintain a
long life of the structures and reduce the cost of maintenances (Broomfield 1998,
Anonymous 2002).
Boundary Element Method: An Application to Evaluate the Potential on Reinforced Concrete

The use of numerical method such as boundary element method (BEM)

(Brebbia 1992) becomes popular among researchers and corrosion engineer for
modeling and solving various corrosion problems (Adey et al. 1992, Aoki et
al.1998, DeGiorgi 1997 and Ridha 2000).
In this paper, the influence of some factors such as the concrete conductivity,
the thickness of concrete cover and the corrosion size to the potential reading on
the concrete surface are analyzed by applying the boundary element method
(BEM).

MODELING OF CORROSION IN CONCRETE

Suppose that the concrete domain (Ω) is surrounded by the surface of the
concrete structure (Γs) and the surface of the steels (Γm) as shown in Figure 1, the
electrical conductivity (κ) is uniform in the whole concrete domain and there is
no accumulation or loss of ions in the bulk of the domain.

FIGURE 1 Schematic of half-cell potential technique

The potential field in the concrete domain (Ω) can be modeled mathematically
by the Laplace's equation:

∇2φ = 0 in Ω (1)

The density of current (i) across the boundary is given by

∂φ
i=−κ (2)
∂n
where κ is the electrical conductivity and ∂/∂n is the outward normal derivative.
The associated boundary conditions to Equation (1) are given as followings:

i=0 on Γs (3)

− φ a = f a (i) on Γm1 (4)

65
Edited by Azami Zaharim

− φ c = f c (i) on Γm2 (5)

where fa(i) and fc(i) are the non-linear functions representing the
experimentally determined polarization curves for corroded and non-corroded
areas on the steel in concrete, respectively.
The minus signs on the right hand sides of Equation (4) and (5) are due to the
fact that the potential in the electrolyte near the metal surface, φ, is equal to
minus value of potential difference between the metal and the reference
electrode, such as saturated calomel electrode, SCE. It is noted that the potential
φ is defined with referring to the metal and has the inverse sign of the employed
usually in the corrosion science. The potential within the steels has been imposed
as the reference potential (i.e. zero volts) for the numerical calculations.
By solving the Laplace's equation in Equation (1) under the boundary in
Equations (3) to (5), the potential φ and current density i on the overall surface of
the electrolyte domain can be determined (Aoki et. al. 1998).
Since the knowledge of physical quantities on the metal surface is important,
boundary element method is employed here. The standard boundary element
procedures lead to:

⎧φ s ⎫ ⎧ io ⎫
⎪ ⎪
κ [H ]⎨ − f (i a ) ⎬ − [G ]⎪⎨ i a ⎪
⎬ = 0 (6)
⎪ − f (i ) ⎪ ⎪i ⎪
⎩ c ⎭ ⎩ c ⎭

where the detail expression of matrices [H] and [G] are given in references
(Brebbia 1980), and the subscripts s, a, c and m represent the quantities on
Γs, Γm1 and Γm2, respectively.
Boundary element method can be used to solve the Laplace's equation in
Equation (1) if the boundary conditions in Equations (3) to (5) are known. Hence,
φ and i on the whole concrete surface can be determined.
To study the influence of some factors that have significant effect on the
potential value on the concrete surface, a model of concrete specimen shown in
Figure 1 was considered. The specimen size was 500x100x100 mm. An
embedded steel, 16 mm in diameter, was cast in concrete at location of y=50 mm.
A single corroded area (6 mm in length) was exist on the reinforcing steel and
located at x=250 mm from the left-end of the concrete specimen.
The polarization curve, the steel which was immerse in 10% sodium chloride
(NaCl) solution for 45 days as reported by Wheat et al. (1985), was used to
represent the polarization curve of the non-corroded area of the steel.
In this study, the analysis was limited only to simulate the influences of
conductivity (inverse resistivity) of the concrete, the thickness of the concrete
cover and the corrosion size.

66
Boundary Element Method: An Application to Evaluate the Potential on Reinforced Concrete

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The influence of concrete conductivity

Three different values of the concrete conductivity were chosen to study the
effect of concrete conductivity i.e. κ (= 0.1, 0.01, and 0.007) 1/Ω.m. The concrete
cover (t) was 50 mm.
Figure 2 shows the influence of concrete conductivity to the potential on the
concrete surface. It can be seen that the potential along the steel on the concrete
surface almost has the same values when the conductivity of the concrete is high.
This means the location of corroded area becomes difficult to identify from the
potential values on the concrete surface.

370
Kappa 0.1
Kappa 0.01
350
Kappa 0.007
Potential (mV)

330

310

290

270
9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43

Location (cm)

FIGURE 2 The influence of concrete conductivity to the potential on the concrete

surface

The influence of concrete cover depth

Three different thickness of the concrete cover (t) were prescribed to study the
effect of concrete cover depth, i.e. t (= 10, 50, and 90) mm. κ= 0.007 1/Ω.m.
Figure 3 shows influence of the concrete cover depth to the potential value on
the concrete surface. With increasing the concrete cover, the potential values of
active corroding and passive corroding become similar. Thus, the location of
small corrosion spots gets more difficult with increasing cover depth.

Cover 1 cm
350
Cover 5 cm
Cover 9 cm
330
Potential (mV)

310

290

270
9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43
Location (cm)

FIGURE 3 the influence of concrete cover depth to the potential on the concrete
surface
67
Edited by Azami Zaharim

The influence of corrosion size

To study the effect of corrosion size, three different values of the corrosion size
were chosen, i.e. c (= 6, 10, and 14) cm. The concrete cover (t) was 50 mm.
Figure 4 shows the influence of corrosion size to the potential on the concrete
surface. It can be seen that the peak of potential curve becomes wider for larger
corrosion size. This means the size of corroded area can be predicted by
analyzing the potential curve on the surface of concrete.

c=6 cm
370
c=10 cm
350 c=14 cm
Potential (mV)

330

310

290

270
9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43
Location (cm)

FIGURE 4 the influence of corrosion size to the potential on the concrete surface

CONCLUSIONS

The effectiveness of potential mapping technique for diagnosing the corrosion of

reinforced concrete structure was evaluated by applying Boundary Element
Method. The potential in the concrete domain was modeled using the Laplace’s
equation. BEM was used to solve the Laplace’s equation. Thus, the potential on
the concrete surface can be determined.
The result of boundary element simulation using a model of prismatic
concrete block with embedded steel shows that the potential values on the
concrete surface were subject to change when the factors such as the conductivity
of the concrete, the depth of the concrete cover depth and the corrosion size were
changed.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors would like to thank ExxonMobil that sponsored the project.

68
Boundary Element Method: An Application to Evaluate the Potential on Reinforced Concrete

REFERENCES

Adey, R.A. & Niku, S.M. 1992. Computer Modeling of Corrosion Using the
Boundary Element Method, Computer Modeling in Corrosion, ASTM STP
1154, pp. 248-264

Anonymous 2000. Half-Cell Potential Surveys of Reinforced Concrete Structures,

Concrete, July/August, pp. 43-45.

Aoki, S., Amaya, K. & Miyasaka, M., 1998. Boundary Element Analysis on
Corrosion Problems, Shokabo, Tokyo.

Brebbia, C.A. & Domiguez, J. 1992. Boundary Elements – An Introductory

Course, 2nd ed., Computational Mechanics Publication.

Brebia, C.A. 1980. The Boundary Element Technique in Engineering, Newnes-

Butterworths, London.

Broomfield, J.P. 1998. Corrosion of Steel in Concrete: Understanding,

investigation and repair, E & FN Spon, London, pp. 40-50.

DeGiorgi, V.G., 1997. A Review of Computational Analysis of Ship Cathodic

Protection System, Boundary Element XIX, Eds. By M. Marchetti, C.A.
Brebia, and M.H. Aliabadi, Compt. Mechanics Publication, pp.829-838

Elsener B. & Bohmi H. 1990. Potential Mapping and Corrosion of Steel in

Concrete, Corrosion Rate of Steel in Concrete, ASTM STP 1065, pp.143-
156.

Ridha, M., 2002. Inverse Analysis Methods for Identifying Corrosion of

Reinforced Concrete Using Boundary Element Method, Doctoral Thesis,
Tokyo Institute of Technology.

Ridha, M., & Aoki, S. 2005. Application of BEM to Evaluate the Potential
Mapping Technique for Corrosion Monitoring. Computational and
Experimental Mechanics (CEM) 2005, pp. 437-444.

Wheat, H.G. & Eliezer, Z. 1985. Some Electrochemical Aspects of Corrosion of

Steel in Concrete, Corrosion, 41(11): 640-645.

69