CATHODIC PROTECTION OF REINFOCED CONCRETE

Reinforced concrete structures are designed to last 50 years and longer, which is realistic if there is no corrosion of the reinforcement. However, due to the nature of concrete as a porous material and contamination of concrete with chlorides and/or carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, corrosion occurs, leading to damage to the structure and even collapse of the structure before the designed service life. Corrosion causes enormous economic damage in the form of reconstruction of the facility, change, or closure of traffic. The solution is in the application of cathodic protection. The application of cathodic protection completely prevents the occurrence of corrosion on new structures, and stops corrosion on existing structures as long as the criteria of SRPS EN ISO 12696 are met, which multiplies the service life of the structure while reducing maintenance costs and preserving the stability of the structure.