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Journal of Chinese Society for Corrosion and protection  2026, Vol. 46 Issue (1): 273-282    DOI: 10.11902/1005.4537.2025.091
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Analysis of Corrosion and Cathodic Protection Characteristics of Reinforced Concrete Pile in Simulated Marine Environments
ZHUANG Ning1, ZENG Yi1, OUYANG Zhengping2(), XU Jinrong3, LI Hanze4, SONG Xiaokun5, WANG Yazhou1
1.College of Harbour, Coastal and Offshore Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210024, China
2.Hainan Institute of Eco-Environmental Geological Survey, Haikou 570206, China
3.Power China Road Bridge Group Corporation Limited, Beijing 100037, China
4.Zhejiang Institute of Hydraulics & Estuary (Zhejiang Institute of Marine Planning and Design), Hangzhou 310002, China
5.China Construction Eighth Engineering Bureau Northwest Company, Xi'an 710000, China
Cite this article: 

ZHUANG Ning, ZENG Yi, OUYANG Zhengping, XU Jinrong, LI Hanze, SONG Xiaokun, WANG Yazhou. Analysis of Corrosion and Cathodic Protection Characteristics of Reinforced Concrete Pile in Simulated Marine Environments. Journal of Chinese Society for Corrosion and protection, 2026, 46(1): 273-282.

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Abstract  

Reinforced concrete piles were prepared and placed in an indoor marine environment simulation set, which then were subjected to applied electric accelerated corrosion so that to be corroded up to 5%, 10%, and 15% of the mean corrosion degree derived theoretically respectively. Subsequently, textile reinforced concrete (TRC) was wrapped around the tidal zone of the piles, and electric current was applied to provide cathodic protection to the steel bars for 90 days in the indoor marine environment simulation set. Along with the corrosion process, by different corrosion degrees and cathodic protection times, the cracking propagation of the concrete surface was acquired to calculate the fractal dimension, and the variations of polarization resistance and electrochemical impedance spectroscopies were detected. The results indicate that the fractal dimension, the polarization resistance Rp, the low-frequency capacitance arc radius in the Nyquist plot, and the low-frequency phase angle in the Bode plot all change regularly with the corrosion process. Specifically, corresponding to 15% corrosion degree, the fractal dimensions of the atmospheric zone, tidal zone, and underwater zone were 1.206, 1.317, and 1.381 respectively. After 90 d, the values in the atmospheric zone and underwater zone were 1.235 and 1.391, respectively. At the same time, the Rp values in each zone increased by 41.51% (atmospheric zone), 44.90% (tidal zone), and 49.39% (underwater zone) compared to those without applied cathodic protection. A reasonable equivalent circuit was further proposed to quantify the variation patterns of concrete resistance (Rcon) and charge transfer resistance (Rct). After 90 d of cathodic protection, the Rct values in the atmospheric zone, tidal zone, and underwater zone showed average increases of 548%, 506%, and 300%, respectively. The findings provide reference for the evaluation and monitoring of the corrosion status and cathodic protection effect of pile foundations in marine environments.

Key words:  marine concrete      corrosion status      cathodic protection      fractal dimension      linear polarization      electrochemical impedance spectroscopy     
Received:  18 March 2025      32134.14.1005.4537.2025.091
ZTFLH:  TV332  
Fund: National Natural Science Foundation of China(51379073)

URL: 

https://www.jcscp.org/EN/10.11902/1005.4537.2025.091     OR     https://www.jcscp.org/EN/Y2026/V46/I1/273

Fig.1  Schematic diagrams of dimension (a) and reinforcement (b, c) of reinforced concrete specimen
Fig.2  Schematic diagram of marine environment simulation system (a) on-site setup (b), DC power supplies (c) and water-level variation curve (d)
Fig.3  Construction process (a) and physical schematic diagram (b) of pasting TRC protective material
Fig.4  Schematic diagram of electrochemical testing
Fig.5  Propagation of cracks during corrosion (a) and cathodic protection (b) stages
Fig.6  Fractal dimensions during corrosion (a) and cathodic protection (b) stages
Fig.7  Rp values at different heights during corrosion (a) and cathodic protection (b) stages
Fig.8  EIS spectra of RC pile during accelerated corrosion stage: (a) 5%, (b) 10%, (c) 15%
Fig.9  EIS spectra of RC pile during cathodic protection stage: (a) 30 d, (b) 60 d, (c) 90 d
Fig.10  Equivalent circuit for fitting EIS data
Fig.11  Rcon(a, c) and Rct (b, d) at corrosion stage (a, b) and cathodic protection stage (c, d)
Test stage

Test

time

Elevation

/ cm

Rs

/ Ω·cm2

Rcon

/ Ω·cm2

CPEc

/ S·sec n ·cm-2

n1

Rct

/ Ω·cm2

CPEdl

/ S·sec n ·cm-2

n2χ2
Corrosion stage33 d1566.3166.56.32 × 10-40.191398.23.79 × 10-30.732.22 × 10-2
(5%)2545.8198.69.86 × 10-40.241565.66.84 × 10-30.851.56 × 10-2
3559.4322.25.09 × 10-40.141213.42.65 × 10-30.715.64 × 10-2
45126.7159.41.67 × 10-40.36721.52.96 × 10-30.723.37 × 10-2
55137.2302.01.12 × 10-40.37821.23.04 × 10-30.759.63 × 10-2
6563.4368.68.79 × 10-50.21926.23.31 × 10-30.782.28 × 10-2
7575.6565.73.46 × 10-40.13924.83.12 × 10-30.723.05 × 10-2
65 d1564.4120.34.93 × 10-30.13613.23.15 × 10-30.832.66 × 10-2
(10%)2597.6130.65.52 × 10-40.25774.33.21 × 10-30.642.72 × 10-2
35122.8264.53.89 × 10-50.42633.42.57 × 10-30.772.58 × 10-2
45101.2153.16.76 × 10-50.46622.13.62 × 10-30.622.35 × 10-2
55141.3192.84.67 × 10-50.44714.23.39 × 10-30.726.46 × 10-3
6565.1341.64.23 × 10-40.15476.93.86 × 10-30.792.63 × 10-2
7577.5484.91.39 × 10-40.19602.23.65 × 10-30.736.80 × 10-3
98 d1552.362.53.46 × 10-50.52355.22.71 × 10-30.754.12 × 10-2
(15%)2565.665.49.21 × 10-50.44355.83.43 × 10-30.723.64 × 10-2
35124.4125.84.15 × 10-50.50413.33.57 × 10-30.763.57 × 10-2
45138.9147.28.30 × 10-50.42332.43.32 × 10-30.634.32 × 10-2
55158.0171.64.79 × 10-50.49357.53.71 × 10-30.643.47 × 10-2
6569.7264.02.64 × 10-40.16337.34.56 × 10-30.761.65 × 10-2
7571.5341.01.67 × 10-40.18483.93.85 × 10-30.621.77 × 10-2
Cathodic protection30 d1550.4132.77.79 × 10-60.59475.83.43 × 10-30.696.13 × 10-2
stage2561.6132.33.11 × 10-50.46469.13.47 × 10-30.604.35 × 10-2
35100.1564.55.98 × 10-50.43453.23.85 × 10-30.764.97 × 10-2
45114.5537.61.02 × 10-40.42485.73.89 × 10-30.773.70 × 10-2
55141.7509.16.43 × 10-60.66322.59.15 × 10-40.434.53 × 10-2
6554.8120.97.26 × 10-50.48304.63.90 × 10-30.775.76 × 10-2
7545.6396.71.98 × 10-40.17682.34.31 × 10-30.843.35 × 10-2
60 d1566.4185.59.56 × 10-60.58654.72.05 × 10-30.676.88 × 10-2
2572.6264.29.89 × 10-50.361383.42.10 × 10-40.756.73 × 10-2
35135.4543.53.10 × 10-50.451002.12.18 × 10-30.726.26 × 10-2
45158.5589.81.90 × 10-50.511033.32.03 × 10-30.787.64 × 10-2
55159.3580.41.58 × 10-40.441388.25.49 × 10-30.772.48 × 10-2
6591.9237.51.45 × 10-50.57785.81.33 × 10-30.793.01 × 10-2
7560.0305.12.85 × 10-40.151067.93.67 × 10-30.863.34 × 10-2
90 d1551.7227.21.01 × 10-40.39995.62.48 × 10-30.676.69 × 10-2
2586.2130.63.72 × 10-60.681134.21.02 × 10-30.521.16 × 10-2
35130.5603.21.32 × 10-50.521644.91.12 × 10-30.651.53 × 10-2
45136.6574.91.74 × 10-40.241795.42.09 × 10-30.794.36 × 10-2
55139.3551.51.09 × 10-40.322144.21.87 × 10-30.545.75 × 10-2
6571.5125.06.92 × 10-50.452411.52.13 × 10-30.772.78 × 10-2
7550.9313.66.91 × 10-50.202089.21.65 × 10-30.734.21 × 10-2
Table 1  Fitting results of EIS spctra of RC pile
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