Monitoring dc stray current corrosion at sheet pile structures

Abstract

Steel is discarded by railway owners as a material for underground structures near railway lines, due to uncertainty over increased corrosion by DC stray currents stemming from the traction power system. This paper presents a large scale field test in which stray currents interference of a sheet pile wall was monitored in realistic conditions. The field test was representative for a sheet pile wall of 220 m length and 10 m depth. Also an anchor was incorporated. A specially designed coupon sensor was used. Measured stray current interference was very low, maximum values were found for the anchor. A conservative interpretation of the measured results showed that additional corrosion due to stray currents was smaller than 10 % of the expected natural corrosion, based on the applicable standards. © RILEM 2013.