Dual function carbon fibre fabric strengthening and impressed current cathodic protection (ICCP) anode for reinforced concrete structures

A novel technique has been proposed and researched in which carbon fibre reinforced polymers (CFRP) are employed to provide both structural strengthening and electrochemical corrosion protection to reinforced concrete (RC) elements suffering from corrosion related damage. In this paper, CFRPs fabric was used for both flexural strengthening of pre-corroded reinforced concrete beams and operated in a dual functional capacity as an impressed current cathodic protection (ICCP) anode. After a period of ICCP operation at high current density either at constant value or adjusted values, the beams were subjected to flexural testing to determine the load- deflection relationships. The potential decays of the steel met recognised ICCP standards and the CFRP fabric remained effective in strengthening the corroded reinforced concrete beams. The bonding at CFRP fabric anode and concrete interface was improved by using U-shaped wrapping and therefore the ultimate strength of dual function of CFRP fabric with U-shaped wrapping increased significantly.