A comprehensive study of the spatial distribution of the galvanic protection current supplied by zinc layer anodes applied to steel-reinforced concrete structures

Abstract Improving the design of cathodic protection systems applied to steel-reinforced concrete structures requires a comprehensive description of the on-going physical phenomena in order to achieve robust engineering models. In this context, this paper deals with one highly relevant question of cathodic protection design: the spatial distribution of the protecting current over the reinforcing steel. The issue is addressed here, for the specific case of zinc layer anodes, by means of experimental tests performed on simple laboratory specimens, together with numerical simulations resulting from theoretical analysis of the physical problem. Particular attention is given to oxygen availability and concrete moisture.