Simulation of Cathodic Protection on Reinforced Concrete Using BEM / Syarizal Fonna...[et al.]

This study is to simulate the cathodic protection (CP) system on a reinforced concrete (RC) structure using the boundary element method (BEM). For simulation purposes, the RC domain was modeled by a Laplace equation. The boundary condition for the sacrificial anode and cathode (reinforcing steel) were obtained from its polarization curve. By solving the Laplace equation using BEM, all electrical potential values on the RC domain could be determined. Thus, the CP system could be evaluated based on the electrical potential on the reinforcing steel. Two studies were conducted by performing BEM simulation, where the CP system model and geometry for the studies were obtained from a previous researcher. The first study was to compare the simulation with experimental results. The second was to study the influence of several parameters on the electrical potential on the reinforcing steel. The BEM simulation results show that displacement between the anode and reinforcing steel would affect the electrical potential on the reinforcing steel. This was consistent with the experimental result. The simulation results also show that the anode size and conductivity of the concrete would affect the electrical potential on the surface of the reinforcing steel. Therefore, it is important to take account of those parameters in designing and/or evaluating the CP system for RC structures.