Carbonation Depth, Corrosion Assessment, Repairing, and Strengthening of 49-Year-Old Marine Reinforced Concrete Structures

Abstract

This study aims to present the results from the assessment of carbonation depth, corrosion, and compressive strength of real marine structures in a 49-year-old gas processing industry. The assessment was achieved through visual observations and non-destructive tests, including rebound hammer test, ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) test, and potential corrosion mapping, conducted in the field. Several cylindrical samples were also cored to test the concrete compressive strength and carbonation depth. The results were subsequently used to calculate the remaining load-bearing capacity of the structures. The observations and measurements showed that carbonation depth ranged from 0 to 63% of the concrete cover, and potential corrosion was at a low to medium level in areas where corrosion had not occurred, while the actual compressive strength is still above the design strength. Moreover, based on the UPV test, the pulse velocity of the concrete is around 3600 m/s, indicating a good concrete quality. Meanwhile, severe corrosion of reinforcing steel occurred locally and only at certain places, which caused a very significant reduction in the diameter and cracks as well as spalling of the concrete cover. The process further led to a significant reduction in the load-bearing capacity. Therefore, repairing and strengthening of the structures were proposed using epoxy resin with corrosion inhibitor, cementitious, polymer-modified repair mortar containing reactive micro-silica, Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) rods, and CFRP sheets. The proposed method can be applied to these structures and also serves as a reference for repairing and strengthening other structures experiencing the same issue.