Miguel Martínez-Madrid

Cathodic Protection in Reinforced Concrete Elements, using Carbon Fibers Base Composites

A carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite was used as external reinforcement and as a cathodic protection (CP) system of steel in concrete elements. Different epoxy resins were tested by varying the amount and length of the carbon fibers used. The CFRP composites were glued to the concrete prisms using such selected conductive resins, then electrically connected with one of the rebars and used as impressed current anodes. A electrical current was applied between the CFRP composite (anode) and the rebar (cathode) at different current densities (50, 100, and 1000 mA/m2). The results obtained have demonstrated that the CFRP external reinforcement used in this investigation can also work as an anode in a cathodic protection system (CP). No mechanical adverse effect was found on the composite and the epoxy resin selected, although the current densities applied were greater than those used in real structures.

Reinforced Concrete Durability in Marine Environments DURACON Project: Long-Term Exposure

This paper presents the results, after a long-term evaluation in marine environments, from an Ibero-American project called “Effect of the environment on reinforcement durability” (DURACON). This p...

Concrete Carbonation in Ibero-American Countries DURACON Project: Six-Year Evaluation

Concrete carbonation data from 16 test sites in 9 countries (Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Spain, Uruguay, Portugal, and Venezuela) were compared to identify concrete performance du...

Effect of Amino Alcohol-Based Corrosion Inhibitor Addition on Galvanized Reinforcements in Alkaline Solutions

Abstract This investigation presents electrochemical analyses of galvanized steel reinforcements in alkaline solutions simulating a concrete-pore environment, in which a commercially available corr...

Galvanic Anodes for Reinforced Concrete Structures: A Review

In recent years, the use of sacrificial anodes for cathodic protection in reinforced concrete structures has increased, reflecting ease of installation, low-maintenance requirements, as well as desirability in prestressed concrete structures where the naturally controlled protection potential decreases the risk of hydrogen embrittlement. Zinc-based alloys have been among the most evaluated galvanic materials for concrete structures, especially in the United States, in many applications: thermal spray, superficial metal/mesh with and without hydrogel adhesive, embedded in concrete (point anodes) with or without salt activator, etc. However, the protection capacity lifetime of zinc alloys as used has been questioned based both on laboratory and on field application studies. Aluminum alloys have also been evaluated, sometimes showing better results as anode materials than zinc alloys. However, both zinc and aluminum alloy anodes may experience limited applicability in concrete structures exposed only to atmo...

Concrete Carbonation in Mexico and Spain: DURACON Project, Four Year Evaluation

This work is part of the DURACON Ibero-American project, which seeks to characterize concrete durability under environmental conditions, based on reinforced concrete sample exposure in at least two different atmospheres (marine and urban), for each of the 11 countries in the project. Specimens were exposed to the environmental conditions of 13 Mexican sites (8 urban and 5 marine atmospheres). Concrete specimens were 15 x 15 x 30 cm, with 6 rebars each, and three concrete covers (15, 20 and 30 cm). Two concrete mixtures were used with water/cement ratios of 0.45 and 0.65, respectively. Six reinforced and six plain concrete specimens were placed on each exposure site. Environmental data was collected on each exposure site, including rainfall, relative humidity, time of wetness, temperature, wind velocity, and carbon dioxide/chloride concentrations. Corrosion rates and potentials, as well as concrete resistivity were measured in the reinforced samples. Carbonation depths were measured on the plain ones. The present work focused on the measurements of environmental parameters during the first two years of exposure to analyze the potentiality and the probability of carbonation-induced corrosion, and the evaluation of the corrosion initiation period for the reinforcing steel on the 13 Mexican exposure sites.