Abstract

The present research has be investigated the relation between the induced
level of polarization and the area of the embedded steel, area of the anode, the
concrete resistance and the level of applied external voltage. During exposure
period, the specimens were polarized using three different levels of external
voltages (750, 1000, 1500) mV. Various electrochemical and electrical
measurements were made, these include half cell potential, degree of polarization,
flowing current and the actually applied voltage as compared with the external one.
The results indicate differential moisture content in each specimen has
produced different potentials along the steel bars. Greater polarization has always
been associated with the submerged portion of the specimen where the concrete
resistance is at its minimum. whereas the degree of polarization is directly
proportional to the level of external voltage. The results also illustrate that, for a
given level of externally applied voltage, the degree of polarization is dependent on
the area of protected steel and the area of the anode. Thus the polarization increases with the decrease in the protected steel area and the increase of the area
of the anode.