Corrosion and Preservation
Moderator(s): Mehdi Shokouhian, PhD, M.ASCE, M.EERI, Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Morgan State University
Application of Performance Engineered Mixtures to Repair Materials
- Luca Montanari, Concrete Materials Engineer, SES Group and Associates at Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center
Recent efforts led by the FHWA’s Office of Infrastructure Research and Development have applied the concepts of the Performance Engineered Mixtures initiative (PEM) to cement-based repair materials. This presentation will present an extensive literature review conducted on the topic of repair materials, and present initial data coming out of the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center to benchmark repair material using the suite of tests highlighted in the PEM initiative. Specifically, the role of early age strength development (critical for maintaining construction schedules) will be presented along with preliminary data to understand the development of transport properties in the unique cement-based systems for infrastructure repair.
Concrete Durability Enhancers — Extending the Life of Concrete Infrastructure and Preventing Ion Transfer
- Paul Imbrock, Technical Consultant, Indiana Soybean Alliance — PoreShield
There is a new category of concrete protection - concrete durability enhancers. This type of technology works differently than commonly used concrete sealants. Concrete durability enhancers are useful not only to prevent ionic transfer of deleterious materials into concrete, but also out of concrete to prevent issues not directly related to durability. For instance, concrete durability enhancers can be used to prevent calcium leaching that causes FOG formation on concrete pipes or leaching that can have an unwanted influence on the ionic composition of material contained in concrete vessels. A new concrete durability enhancer technology, soy methyl ester-polystyrene (SME-PS) offers durability enhancement to all types of concrete. Utilized by highway officials and DOTs to preserve pavement joints and bridge deck surfaces, this innovative technology provides over 10 years of protection against water, salt and freeze/thaw damage. Where other technologies, like conventional sealers, coat the surface, SME-PS is absorbed deep into concrete pores with a preventative and self-healing compound that actively responds to damage and potentially destructive changes in concrete. It fills concrete pores with a viscous, hydrophobic material, leaving no film on the surface to prevent water and harmful ions (such as chlorides introduced in deicing) from entering into the pore network. Independent, DOT-sponsored studies have shown that SME-PS reduces chloride ion diffusion by a greater amount than any other product tested, including penetrating silane sealants. In addition to proven performance, SME-PS is cost-effective and easy to apply to new or existing concrete, on horizontal or vertical surfaces. Since it is derived from soybeans, SME-PS is non-toxic to humans and the environment, requires no special PPE, and is low VOC, meeting national standards for EPA, CARB, SCAQMD, OTC, and AIM. SME-PS is also USDA Certified Bio-preferred and is listed in the US federal mandatory purchasing catalog.
Corrosion Protection on Bridges Using Cathodic Protection
- Sharat Menon, Sr. Manager of Last Longer Solutions, Structural Technologies, LLC
Highways and other steel reinforced concrete structures have faced major corrosion related problems. Bridges over the years have suffered major deterioration due to the extensive use of de-icing salts and chloride-laden air. Cathodic protection systems have a history of success in providing corrosion protection for steel reinforcing in concrete contaminated with chlorides. In this presentation, we will discuss available countermeasures through cathodic protection for significant long-term savings and increased asset availability.
Bios
Luca Montanari is a Concrete Materials Engineer at SES Group working at the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center and a Ph.D. student at the University of Texas at Austin. His current research is focused on cement-based repair materials and is working to support FHWA’s advancement of Performance Engineered Mixtures. He completed his undergraduate degree in civil engineering from the Polytechnic University of Turin and earned a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from Oregon State University in 2017 while conducting research on the applications of internal curing to pavement concretes.
Paul Imbrock is a technical consultant for the Indiana Soybean Alliance — PoreShield. After growing up in rural Northeast Indiana, Imbrock attended Purdue University where he received a degree in Civil Engineering. After graduating, he performed research with Purdue Civil Engineers focused on electrical sensing of concrete and concrete preservation. His work included continued development of soy methyl ester-polystyrene (SME-PS) with the state DOT partners. Upon leaving Purdue, Imbrock started Environmental Concrete Products and has since been working to bring this innovative technology to real world infrastructure preservation.
Sharat Menon has more than 14 years of experience in corrosion evaluation and rehabilitation of reinforced concrete and post-tensioned structures. Menon has remarkable knowledge in Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) techniques, determining root cause of deterioration and service life extension strategy for deteriorated structures — having worked on over 100 assessment projects for reinforced and post tensioned structures.
