ROGERTEC

GalvaPulse
for ELECTRICAL RESIST ANCE, HALF-CELL POTENTIALS , & CORROSION RAT E

Features
Estimation of the reinforcement corrosion rate in less than 10 seconds. Reliable evaluation of reinforcement corrosion in anaerobic concrete environment. Half-cell potential along wi th the electrical resistance of the cover lay er. Lightweight electrode, handheld computer and easy-to-operate software. Durable guard ring system for focusing the current field to the reinforcement. Measurement on uneven and rough surfaces. Easy data export to Windows PCs for plotting of data.

ROGERTEC

Rogertec Rua Correia de Arajo, 131 Barra da Tijuca - Rio de Janeiro Cep 22611-060 - RJ - Brasil

Tel.: (21)3154-3250 / 3154-3251 Fax.: (21) 3154-3259

ROGERTEC

GalvaPulse
System

'

Overview

Germann Instruments GalvaPulse utilizes the galvanostatic pulse method, which is the latest technique for assessing the risk of corrosion to the reinforcement in concrete structures. Trad itional corrosion mapping can lead to misinterpretation of potential readings when encountering an extremely wet, dense or polymer-modified concrete that has limited access to oxygen. The galvanostatic pulse method induces a short duration anodic current pulse into the reinforcement galvaostatically via a measuring cell that consists of three elements: a counter electrode, a reference electrode and a guard ring (See next page). The applied current is usually in the range of 5 to 400A. The typical duration of the current pulse is up to 10 seconds. The reference electrode records the resulting change in electro-chemical potential of the reinforcement as a function of polarization time. As with other corrosion mapping systems, the concrete cover must be exposed to determine that each length of reinf o rcement be intact electricall y. For estimating the corrosion rate, the rebar size needs to be known.

Estimating

Corrosion

Rate

By utilizing the ohmic resistance (electrical resistance), the DC polarization resistance over time, and the applied current, the corrosion current can be estimated with the Stern Geary equation. When the diameter of the corroding reinforcement and its exposed length are known, the confined reinforcement area can be calculated. Farad ays law of electrical equivalence states that 1mA/cm2 corresponds to a cross section loss of approximately year . The corrosion rate can be estimated b y the fo llowing equation. Corrosion Rate ~ 10.I
corr

10mm/

/A

The corrosion rate is in m/year . I corr is the corrosion current in A. A is the confined area of the reinfo rcement in cm 2 .

ROGERTEC

Rogertec Rua Correia de Arajo,131 Barra da Tijuca - Rio de Janeiro Cep 22611-060 - RJ - Brasil

Tel.: (21)3154-3250 / 3154-3251 Fax.: (21)3154-3259

ROGERTEC

GalvaPulse

'

Three-element

measuring

cell

The design of the three-element measuring cell is due to the nature of real world RC structures. The GalvaPulse s counter electrode is much smaller than that of the reinforcement, resulting in the electrical signal tending to vanish with increasing cover to the reinforcement. As a result, the measured effective polarization resistance cannot be connot be converted to a corrosion rate unless a second concentric counter electrode is used. This guard ring confines the applied current to an area equivalent to the first counter electrode. Workabout datalogger

PSION

A PSION Workabout handheld computer recor ds the data, which can be downloaded to a Windows-based software for print out on an IBM-compatible PC. The readings can be exported to Microsoft Excel. The suplied GalvaPulse Data Veiwing and Reporting Program can graphically display the potentials, electrical resistance and corrosion rate in 2D or 3D charts. A pulse generator to supply the applied current is mounted on the back of the PSION. To check the perf ormance of the GalvaPulse, a concrete sample cast with a corroding rebar and a stainless steel bar is supplied with the kit.

Data Viewing Graphics Corrosion activity represent in color as 2D o r 3D

ROGERTEC

Rogertec Rua Correia de Arajo,131 Barra da Tijuca - Rio de Janeiro Cep 22611-060 - RJ - Brasil

Tel.: (21)3154-3250 / 3154-3251 Fax.: (21)3154-3259

ROGERTEC

GalvaPulse
GP-5000

'

GalvaPulse

Kit contains:

Supplied

sperately

with

kit:

Cable drum with 15 meters of cable. Concrete sample with a corroding r ebar and a stainless steel rebar . Dimensions of sample may vary with kit.

PSION Workabout computer/datalogger with installed GalvaPulse software and at tached pulse gener ator . Measuring cell with 6 meter cable. Sponge for measuring cell. Reinfo rcement locator . Reinfo rcement conductivity meter . Cable for data transfer to PC. Measuring cable, banana plugs. Two adjustable clamping pliers. Four spare batteries for PSION. Bottle of tap water . 12mm and 18mm drill bits. Emery cloth. Two reinf orcement adaptors. 10mm Al len key. Hammer . Measuring tape. Chalk. CD-ROM with GalvaPulse Data Viewing and Reporting Program for Windows PC Manuals. Foam-lined carrying case.

ROGERTEC

Rogertec Rua Correia de Arajo,131 Barra da Tijuca - Rio de Janeiro Cep 22611-060 - RJ - Brasil

Tel.: (21)3154-3250 / 3154-3251 Fax.: (21)3154-3259