Analytical Study on Influence of Concrete Crack on Current Distribution in Cathodic Protection

In this study, the influence of cracks that have been generated in the cover concrete by the hand chipping on the current distribution along the rebar to which the cathodic protection is applied. As the first step, with the specimens made of mortar and steel plate, it was found that the large crack nearby the steel plate affects the current distribution. In order to simulate the electric potential/current flow distribution by the cathodic protection, an analytical model with two dimensional FDM was built. As the second step, in order to investigate the influence of the crack in concrete on the distribution of the corrosion prevention current in the structure, the analytical model was applied to the structure. It was found by the simulation that cracks do not give fatal adverse effects on the effect of cathodic protection, as long as very large cracks which cannot be found in the application of the cathodic protection are not generated.