Half-cell Potential Method &

Electrical Resistivity Method

By,
K.SANGEETHA RAJ

Non-Destructive Testing

Non Destructive Testing serve as a vital tool not

only in estimating the strength, integrity and

types of active deterioration mechanism, but also
guide the engineers to plan and devise strategies
for executing repair & rehabilitation projects.
The

Presence
assessed by

of

Corrosion

Activity

can

be

1)Half-Cell Potential Method

2)Electrical Resistivity Method
d and interpreted by experienced specialists because to many engineers the features, and especially

the limitations of available test methods are unknown and consequently left to experts.

Half Cell Potential Survey

This test method covers the estimation of

the electrical corrosion potential of

uncoated reinforcing steel infield and
laboratory concrete, for the purpose of
determining the corrosion activity of the
reinforcing steel.
Copper-Copper Sulphate Electrode (CSE)
Silver-Silver Chloride Electrode (SSE)
The potential values become more and
more negative as corrosion becomes more
and more active

HALF-CELL POTENTIAL METHOD

Principle: Electric Potential Difference

Transparent Plastic
Tube
Copper Rod

Copper Sulphate Solution

Porous Plug (Sponge)

Weak Half Cell of a

Battery
Electrod
e

Electrolytic
Material

Reinforcement Potential
Measurement

Test Procedure

Example

Grid Marking &

Wetting of Concrete
Surface

Measurement of Electrical
Potential Difference

Digital
Values

Colored Scale

Iso - Potential
Contours

Gray Scale

Testing is in
Progress

According to ASTMC876

ELECTRICAL RESISTIVITY METHOD

Principle:Electrical Resistance of Concrete
Flow of current generated is assessed in terms of electrolytic Resistivity of
concrete.

Instrume
nt

Resistivity Meter
(RESI)

Resistivity of Concrete
() = 2 S V/I kcm

Resistivity
Measurements

Electrical Resistivity Method

The

electrical resistance of concrete plays an

important role in determining the quality of concrete
from the point of view corrosion susceptibility
potential at any specific location. This parameter is
expressed in terms of Resistivity in ohm-cm.
For general monitoring, a resistivity check is
important because long-term corrosion can be
anticipated in concrete structures where accurately
measured values are below 10000 ohm-cm. further
if resistivity values fall below 5000 ohm-cm,
corrosion must be anticipated at a much earlier
period (possibly within 5 years) in the life of a
structure.

Resistivity ohm-cm
Greater than 20,000
10,000 20,000
5,000 10000
Less than 5,000

Corrosion Probability
Negligible
Low
High
Very high

CANIN+ INSTRUMENT

The CANIN+ instrument provides two

methods for investigating and assessing the
corrosion of steel in concrete.
1)Measurement of corrosion potential
2)Measurement of electrical resistivity of
reinforced concrete components
)
The Windows based software CANIN ProVista,
developed by Proceq SA, makes it possible to
download, present and edit data measured by
the CANIN+ half-cell instrument in a fast and
easy way using an IBM-compatible PC.

CANIN+ INSTRUMENT

The program generates a potential map, a

relative frequency and a cumulative frequency

diagram and provides a chipping graph.
This statistical presentation is the basis for an
efficient interpretation of the half-cell potentials
by the corrosion engineer.
Single files can be opened and processed
separately.
By rotating or mirroring in intervals of 90 the
single potential maps can be combined to form
a complete graph representing the total
investigated surface area.

CANIN+ INSTRUMENT

Based on the user defined threshold

potentials that represent certain conditions

of the structure, up to four characteristic
potential intervals can be chosen. The
corresponding partial areas are marked
with different colors in the presentation as
a Chipping graph.

Potential Map, Relative and

Cumulative Frequency Diagram

CANIN+ INSTRUMENT- CORROSION POTENTIAL APPLICATION

The CANIN+ Corrosion Analyzing Instrument

highlights corrosion activity before rust

becomes visible.
This early detection can be key in preventing
an unanticipated structural failure.
CANIN+ is ideally suited for assessment of
corrosion potentials on large areas of 8,000
mor multiple thereof, depending on the
individual selectable grid size.
235,000 values can be stored by the
intelligent memory.

CANIN+ INSTRUMENT- CORROSION RESISTIVITY APPLICATION

Secondly, the instrument can measure the resistivity of the

concrete.
A lower concrete resistivity indicates a greater chance
of corrosion of the reinforcement and also a greater corrosion
rate.
The resistivity of concrete can vary extensively depending
on the local conditions and environmental influence factors.
The combination of resistivity and potential measurement
improves the information about the corrosion condition of
the rebar's.
The concrete resistivity is measured by the four-point Wenner
probe.
All information is indicated on a large clear display.
The instrument can also store up to 5,800 resistivity values
and the data can be transferred to a PC for further analysis.

Testing
Instrument

Corrosion Analyzing Instrument

(CANIN)

Wire & Clip for

Reinforcement
Connection
Rod
Electrode

Multi Electrodes

Wheel Electrode

Corrosion Probability based on Resistivity and

Potential Mapping

THANK
YOU